A First Step Onto the Stage

On December 6, Rejoice held its annual Children’s Ballet Showcase, a special performance created to give young dancers their very first opportunity to perform. Designed as an introduction to the stage, the showcase offers a smaller room and a more relaxed atmosphere that allows students to take those early performing steps with confidence.

The event serves as preparation for the Spring Showcase, when the entire school performs together at Belmont’s Troutt Theater. By starting in a more intimate setting, dancers learn what it means to rehearse, perform, and celebrate their work before stepping onto a larger stage later in the year.

This format was first piloted four years ago, and after its inaugural year, it became clear the Children’s Ballet Showcase needed to happen every year.

Bringing Campuses and Families Together

The showcase brings together dancers and families from all three Rejoice campuses, creating an opportunity to expand friendships beyond individual classes. Young dancers get to see many other children who also love ballet, while families connect with one another across locations.

For many parents, the day becomes as much about community as it is about performance. Sitting together, cheering together, and celebrating together reflects the broader Rejoice experience.

Board member Elyse Adler, who attends each year, shared why the event is so meaningful to her.

“The children are adorable and their performances are so cute, but I love watching the families watch them,” she said. “That is priceless.”

Learning to Perform as a Team

Performing in a group teaches dancers how to work together toward a shared goal. Students learn that they are not only dancing for themselves, but also for their peers. Being present, staying focused, and following through on commitments become essential parts of the experience.

Through this process, dancers begin to understand what it means to support one another and to be accountable to the group. These lessons extend well beyond the stage.

Celebrating the Littlest Artists

One of the most special elements of the Children’s Ballet Showcase is the involvement of upper level students who volunteer to guide younger dancers through their first performance. These students help backstage, reassure nervous performers, and make sure each child feels special in their tutu. They share stories from their own early performances and offer encouragement in moments that feel big to first time dancers. Their presence helps bridge generations of dancers and shows younger students what is possible as they grow.

For staff and faculty, the showcase offers a unique opportunity to spend focused time with Rejoice’s youngest dancers.

Celebrating the dancers afterward is just as important. Applause, smiles, and words of affirmation let students know their effort matters and that they are supported every step of the way.

A Moment Families Will Always Remember

The Children’s Ballet Showcase brings families together to celebrate their little stars. Parents, grandparents, siblings, and extended family gather to witness a milestone moment.

One grandfather was overheard proudly telling his granddaughter, “Your arms moved so beautifully and in perfect time with the music. You did a wonderful job.”

Moments like these are what make the showcase so meaningful. As Cora Hedgis, Director of School Operations, said, seeing the connection between children and the people who love them most is the greatest gift of the day.

The Children’s Ballet Showcase continues to be a joyful reminder that big journeys begin with small steps, and that at Rejoice, those steps are always taken together.