Through partnerships that spark joy, learning, and connection, Kansas City Ballet is bringing dance to new audiences, from science museums to senior communities.
During a recent rehearsal, a young visitor from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City watched dancers sweep across the studio. She turned to her mentor and whispered, “She looks like me.” It was the first time she had seen a ballerina who shared her skin tone, and the first time she realized ballet could be for her, too.
Moments like this capture the heart of Kansas City Ballet’s growing Partnerships initiative, designed to bring dance beyond the theater and into the community. Through collaborations with partners like Science City, Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Ballet is inspiring curiosity, movement, and creativity for people of all ages.
Expanding the Ballet’s Reach
Community engagement has long been central to Kansas City Ballet’s mission. Each year, the organization reaches thousands through performances, matinees, lecture demonstrations, and programs like Reach Out And Dance (R.O.A.D.), which brings movement and creativity to third and fourth grade students, including those in under-resourced schools.
In 2024, this work expanded through a new Partnerships initiative aimed at building relationships that reflect Kansas City’s diverse communities. As Executive Director David Gray explains, “Meeting people where they are and collaborating in ways that advance our mission – to inspire and engage through the beauty, power, and passion of dance – is essential.”
To help bring this vision to life, the Ballet welcomed back former team member Kim Trudell, who launched the School’s Adaptive Dance program a decade ago. Today, she forges collaborations across the metro area. She often begins with a single workshop to listen, assess, and tailor a plan for the season. Rather than one-off engagements, Kim focuses on building continuity, family dance experiences, and reaching groups that haven’t traditionally been served. In just over a year, pilot programs have become a vibrant network of community connections, each one proving that dance can inspire, empower, and unite.
Science City at Union Station: Where Dance Meets Discovery
At Science City, curiosity and creativity meet movement through Kansas City Ballet’s interactive programming. What began as a friendly introduction has become a true partnership, starting with the annual KidFEST. The relationship now includes workshops with mutual partner Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri, co-created STEAM activities, and additional engagements reaching hundreds of children and families.
In 2024, the Ballet’s Second Company dancers joined KidFEST for the first time, blending movement with hands-on activities that introduced children to careers in dance. In 2025, a Light & Sound theme opened the door to exploring the science behind motion and music, with a Ballet teaching artist guiding movement linked to the concepts.
Parents and educators praised the experience. “The explanations were concise and clear, and the kids adored the chance to try the moves themselves,” shared a Science City educator. Parent Kirsten Persley appreciated seeing the Ballet “out in the community, down-to-earth and accessible.”
Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place: Movement for Every Body
At Saint Luke’s Bishop Spencer Place, dance is becoming a welcomed and engaging part of community life. While dancers had performed there once in the past, Kim reestablished and reshaped the relationship, nurturing it into an ongoing partnership tailored to the residents’ needs, including invitations to dress rehearsals at the Kauffman Center. “Each organization is unique, so each relationship has to be, too,” she explains.
A monthly class led by Kansas City Ballet Academy faculty member Suzanne Ryanstrati brings residents together to move, stretch, strengthen, and enjoy music. Her classes engage the whole body, using music from the ’40s to the ’70s to guide exercises that build coordination and strength. “This experience engages our residents physically, emotionally, and cognitively,” said Life Enrichment Director Helen Ravenhill.
Residents feel that impact firsthand. “Suzanne makes you feel like a ballerina,” shared Elisabeth Batchelor. Another added, “Attending the dress rehearsals seems miraculous… an opportunity I never expected at this time of my life.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Opening Doors to the Arts
For many Bigs and Littles, the Ballet’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters opens a door to the arts, often for the first time. Groups attend dress rehearsals, participate in workshops, and enjoy events like the Fall Dance Party, which kicked off the 2025 season with live music and movement.
Match Activities and Outreach Coordinator Ellyssa Gallinger highlights the impact of representation: “When a child can see themselves in the art, they begin to believe they can be part of it.”
These experiences build confidence, spark creativity, and strengthen bonds between mentors and mentees.
The Ripple Effect: Building Belonging
“When we go into the community, we make ballet more accessible, more human, and more connected,” says Artistic Director Devon Carney. “Those moments of connection are where curiosity grows and new audiences begin.”
The success of these partnerships has revealed something powerful: when people experience dance up close, they see themselves reflected in it. Whether it’s a child discovering ballet is for them, a senior rediscovering movement, or a family exploring science through dance, each moment deepens the Ballet’s connection with the community.
Demand is growing quickly. “Kim is getting requests we can’t always fulfill. The enthusiasm is extraordinary,” says David Gray. Programs for seniors, in particular, “are taking off in a big way.”
This growth affirms the Ballet’s message: dance is for everyone.
Ready to Grow
From classrooms to community centers, science museums to senior residences, Kansas City Ballet’s partnerships show that dance can reach every corner of the city. Each collaboration begins with a single connection, and together, they strengthen Kansas City’s cultural fabric.
Interested in supporting this work?
Contact Kristin Castle, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at 816.216.5585 or kcastle@kcballet.org.
Interested in exploring a partnership?
Contact Kim Trudell, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, at partnerships@kcballet.org.
Header image: Kansas City Ballet Trainees led a Swan Lake-themed workshop for Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri. Photo by Maddie Brasgalla.
