Cape Cod Conservatory Ballet Students Share Their Love of Dance

Conservatory Ballet Students Share Their Love of Dance

10-year-old scholarship program introduces E Falmouth 4th graders to ballet

FALMOUTH – Their faces alternate between stern scowls of concentration and grins of joyous satisfaction. Some of the moves are graceful, some are a tad awkward; but every step builds self-confidence. As they work through their routine the tension is occasionally broken with laughter that tumbles into hugs and giggles. Welcome to Tuesday ballet class, an after-school activity for fourth graders at East Falmouth Elementary.

The classes are led by Nicola Ferraro, Lian Folger, Annmarie Silva and Jordan Walsh, all of Falmouth and all members of the Cape Cod Conservatory senior ballet corps. For the last 10 years Conservatory senior ballet students like this quartet have traveled to East Falmouth Elementary to share their love of dance and inspire a group of girls who want to share the tradition of grace and beauty that is ballet. “It feels great to give back to the community and pass on our experience and love of dance,” said Ms. Ferraro.

The public is welcome to attend the Cape Cod Conservatory Spring Dance Recital on Saturday, May 31st, 6pm at Mashpee High School.Near the end of the school year all of the girls participate in the Conservatory’s Spring Dance Recital. And one of them, as nominated by the teachers, receives a full-year scholarship from the Conservatory to continue working in ballet.

The program was created by another Conservatory ballerina, Ali MacDonald. Her mother, Wendy Scholes was – and still is – a teacher at East Falmouth. “This is a wonderful program,” said Ms. Scholes. “For almost all of the girls in the class this is their first exposure to ballet. It provides an opportunity that they would otherwise not have. We’re grateful to these young ladies for donating their time; it’s such a good cause.”

The public is welcome to attend the Conservatory Spring Dance Recital. It will be held at Mashpee High School on May 31 at 6:00 PM. The scholarship winner from East Falmouth will be announced at that time.

Release and image courtesy of the Cape Cod Conservatory.

Founded in 1956, the Cape Cod Conservatory is a non-profit organization serving the cultural needs of the community through instruction in music, art, dance and theater. With almouth 1,000 students and a faculty of more than 60, it has campuses localed in West Barnstable on Route 132 and on Highfield Drive in Falmouth, next to the Highfield Theater. Visit the web site here.