Ballet and Books is a national,
non-profit organization striving to
reduce the literacy gap through
the hybrid storytelling of
dance and reading.
In our extracurricular programming led by high school and college students, we provide 3-9-year-olds with an opportunity to improve their literacy skills through a combination of dance instruction and dialogic reading.
only
35%
of fourth-graders are proficient in reading in the U.S.¹
¹ National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2019.
This is the literacy crisis.
The startling report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress revealed that only 35% of fourth-graders are proficient in reading in the United States. Conducted in 2019, the report is not yet reflective of the even greater educational loss due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those disruptions compounded an already alarming literacy rate among children from lower socioeconomic statuses.
Through dialogic reading, we encourage a greater love of learning and reading skills improvement in 3-9-year-old students.
Through dance, we foster a sense of confidence and leadership skills among both young children and college students.
Through mentorship, we bridge the gap between universities and their community's youth.
Through thoughtful representation, we embody the importance of diverse identities in dance.
400+
We've helped nearly 400 children and student leaders since our founding and are on track to help over 100 more by the end of 2023.
