ABOUT PRE-K & KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS
Nashville Ballet’s curriculum-based educational initiative brings innovative dance programming to Pre-K and Kindergarten students across Middle Tennessee. Working to achieve our mission to develop and cultivate audiences with a lifelong appreciation for the essential and inspiring art of dance, we offer a variety of educational programming that uniquely integrates arts education with core academic subjects including language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Utilizing standards-based dance education workbooks, interactive teacher resources, movement exercises, and activities taught by our professional teaching artists, we assist educators in helping students of all ages strengthen their academic performance while increasing their awareness, knowledge, and utilization of dance and the arts.
Story Time offers an interactive learning adventure designed to introduce the art form of ballet. Participants will listen and dance along as Nashville Ballet Teaching Artists tell beloved ballet stories. All storytimes, with the exception of Singing Tortoise, are recommended for ages 3 – 7 years old.
Nashville Ballet Story Times to choose from:
Little Cloud
Educator’s guide Available
This program introduces students to the joy and boundless possibilities of movement. Guided by a Teaching Artist, students will learn how to create shapes and carve out space with their bodies. Storytime is inspired by the book “ Little Cloud” by Eric Carle.
Honk! The Story of a Prima Swanerina
Educator’s guide available
Based on the lighthearted children’s book of the same name by Pamela Duncan Edwards, this interactive story engages all ages with a humorous tale about a ballet-smitten swan who has an unexpected moment to shine onstage with a group of prima ballerinas who, in Mimi’s mind, are simply pretending to be her!
Nashville's Nutcracker
educator’s guide available
Nashville's own version of this timeless holiday classic tells the tale of Clara, a young girl who travels on a fantastic journey with the help of her magical Uncle Drosselmeyer. This special holiday tradition introduces young audiences to Nashville Ballet's unique version of the traditional story by taking them on a short trip through the Land of the Sweets.
Día de los Muertos
Join Nashville Ballet Teaching Artist for a captivating storytime and movement experience inspired by the vibrant Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos. Discover the traditions of this special celebration and explore the four essential elements of an ofrenda through storytelling and dance.
Head to Toe
I Can Do It! is the enthusiastic affirmation from Eric Carle’s Head to Toe—and now, let's do it! Join a Nashville Ballet Teaching Artist as we listen, dance, and explore all the exciting ways our bodies can move—just like our animal friends!
Swan Lake
In this quintessential ballet, set to music composed by the great Tchaikovsky, a prince falls in love with a swan maiden whom he discovers is more woman than swan. Only he can break the spell cast by the evil sorcerer to turn the swan maiden into her true form of a woman. This interactive story time introduces children to classical ballet and the theatrical language of pantomime.