The After School Dance Program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County has a rich history of providing free formal dance training in ballet, jazz, and creative movement to youth who may not typically have classes available to them. This program also grants the opportunity to build self-esteem, creativity, and develop a healthy mental and physical lifestyle through mentoring and nutritional education.
For the past eleven years the program has served hundreds of youth in Plano and now with the successful expansion of the program in the cities of Frisco and McKinney in the fall of 2006, the program now serves approximately 125 children per year. These students are between the ages of 6-14 and are provided with instruction for 1 hour of class once a week in the cities of Frisco, McKinney, and Plano. Classes are held weekly in each city which are attended by the the children on the basis of their age and appropriate level of technical training. Mary Whiting is a highly qualified instructor with a background not only as a dance professional, but she also holds a Masters Degree in Dance Therapy, as well as training in nutrition. This is key to the overall education of these under served children.
Chamberlain’s goal is to play an integral part in shaping their future as healthy individuals so they can mature into healthy and active adults. They attend field trips to professional performances to further their dance education as a patron of the arts and are offered the opportunity to meet infuentical women in dance such as Judith Jameson of Alvin Ailey.
In order to better serve the students in the program, Chamberlain is working to provide the participants in the program the proper tools necessary to be an artist of dance. An adequate classroom facility is just one way Chamberlain is working to move the program in the proper direction. The classes in McKinney are held in a classroom at the McKinney Performing Arts Center in the Historic Dowtown Square. The Plano classes are currently being held at Chamberlain School of Performing Arts. Offering the students an appropriate learning environment is only a portion of what the students need.
Proper dance clothing consisting of black leotards, pink tights, and ballet shoes are made available to all of the regular participants. These articles are donated as lightly used items by families of company members and those of students at Chamberlain School of Performing Arts. Various needs of the program are also provided by the Chamberlain Performing Arts Guild.
The organization also offers scholarships to program students to further their formal dance training at Chamberlain School of Performing Arts. Although this program is hosted through the Boys and Girls Clubs, it is not exclusive to only those children. Any child within the city or surrounding cities can register with the club in order to participate in Chamberlain's After School Dance Program free of charge.
