Boston Ballet’s Citydance Documentary Celebrates the Program’s Reach and Influence in its 30th Year
For 30 years, Citydance has been the center of Boston Ballet’s accessible and inclusive dance education offering. Through a partnership with Boston Public Schools, the program provides 3,000 third graders each year in more than 130 classrooms with a free introduction to the expressive power and joy of movement, creative improvisation and multicultural dance traditions to classical ballet.
In partnership with NBC10 Boston, Boston Ballet shares the story of this program through a new documentary, “Citydance 30”, premiering this weekend. The hour-long film chronicles the vibrancy of Citydance and highlights the impact the program has had over three decades since it was launched by Bruce Marks in 1991. Interviews with program faculty, teachers, parents, Alumni and recent graduates of the program reflect on inspirational personal moments as well as life lessons that go far beyond the art form.
“Citydance opens every student’s mind to so many different ways of thinking and different perspectives, [imagining] so many other possibilities,” says program alumnus and lead instructor Austin Sa in the documentary, adding that the students’ experience of self-expression taps into “a side of themselves that they don’t know about. have never seen before”.
“It’s one of those things that can really define who you are and what you become in any area of life,” says famed dancer/choreographer Ebony Williams, who was part of the first group of Citydance students 30 years ago.
For many, Citydance is just the beginning. From each year’s entrants, the program selects 400 enthusiastic and aspiring dancers to join an intensive 10-week course at Boston Ballet. Those who want to continue further receive full scholarships to Boston Ballet School for as long as they commit to training.
Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen believes that even children without dance training find the program a meaningful touchpoint for learning about the arts. “It warms my heart to hear how much of an impact this has had,” Nissinen told The Globe. “We need to continue to listen to the community, see what the needs are and work together, and pave the way for this art form at the same time. It is a large access bridge.
The one-hour special will air on NBC10 Boston starting August 20 at 7 p.m., on NECN on August 27 at 7 p.m. and on Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra (with Spanish narration) on September 10 at 11 a.m., with options streaming on NBC. and the Telemundo Boston websites.
Karen Campbell can be reached at [email protected]