For over 100 years, the Rainey Institute has invested in Cleveland. Founded in 1904, it was originally a settlement house providing social services to Eastern European immigrants. Today, Rainey is dedicated to positive change for Greater Cleveland’s youth and families through education and participation in the performing and visual arts. Since 2013, Rainey Institute and GroundWorks have partnered to offer a ballet fundamentals program for students ages 6-10. GroundWorks dancers lead students in a year-round program consisting of two classes per week for two 14-week semesters. The dancers teach students proper ballet technique, which they showcase at an end-of-the-year performance. The students and their families are also invited to attend GroundWorks performances at no cost in order to experience professional dance and to connect young aspiring artists to GroundWorks on a higher level.
GroundWorks artists Gemma Freitas Bender and Taylor Johnson had the opportunity to work with the Rainey Institute this past year to teach children the art of dance. Gemma found the experience incredibly moving.
Q: What were some highlights of teaching at the Rainey Institute?
A: I really enjoyed meeting a new community of people in Cleveland. Every time you walk in, it’s like a big family. I always get greeted with one or two hugs, laughing, playing, and lots and lots of energy!
Q: How long did you teach at Rainey?
A: Taylor and I began teaching at Rainey in September through their whole school year.
Q: What was your goal for the students?
A: Our goal for the students was for them to express interest in a new art form (ballet) that most of them have never done before! And for them to have respect for themselves, their teachers, and their peers.
Q: What kind of growth did you see in the students?
A: By the end of the year there were a handful that truly were engaged and enjoying ballet! That was so rewarding.
Q: Why is outreach important to GroundWorks?
A: Outreach is an incredibly important mission for GroundWorks but I also believe it is a necessity for all the arts – we don’t exist in a vacuum, and in order to share what we do with others as performers on stage, we are obligated, I believe, to bring it to them in all different communities and provoke an interest and passion within them.