Lance DeMoss-Black never saw himself as a dancer. Before last year, he had never even considered trying ballet – let alone loving it. But thanks to the Kansas City Ballet School’s Reach Out And Dance (R.O.A.D.) Program, Lance found himself in a Thursday movement class at school that opened up a whole new world.
“I had no hobbies before,” Lance admits. “But then I found ballet, and I really love it.”
What started as a weekly introduction to dance quickly became something bigger: a passion, a scholarship, and even a place on stage. Now, at just 10 years old, Lance is a R.O.A.D. Scholar taking classes twice a week at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity. He has already performed at the Kauffman Center in ALICE (in wonderland), Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker, and Don Quixote. Though he was nervous at first, he’s learned to embrace the spotlight.
“I felt like I mattered,” he says. “Like I was part of something bigger.”
A Transformation Beyond the Studio
R.O.A.D. didn’t just help Lance find his passion. It also gave him a positive outlet for his energy and emotions. Before joining R.O.A.D., Lance had often struggled with disruptive behavior at school.
But everything changed when he discovered dance. The structure, discipline, and creativity gave Lance a new sense of purpose. Motivated by the opportunity to continue with the R.O.A.D. Scholarship Program at Kansas City Ballet, he was determined to change his behavior.
“Lance’s transformation has been remarkable,” says Chad Cross, Curriculum Administrator at Lance’s school, Turner Elementary School in Wyandotte County. “He went from being prone to frequent disruptions to demonstrating greater self-control and maturity. His involvement with R.O.A.D. gave him an artistic outlet and fostered a new resilience in him.”
From R.O.A.D. Student to R.O.A.D. Scholar
After falling in love with movement during his 3rd grade in-school Residency at Turner Elementary, Lance quietly set his sights on earning a Year 2 R.O.A.D. Scholarship.
“I didn’t even know he was up for the scholarship,” says his mother, Halie. “When we got the news and I told him he had been selected, he cried with joy.”
Now, as a R.O.A.D. Scholar, Lance trains twice a week at the Bolender Center, building on the foundation from his in-school classes. He’s making new friends and learning new techniques, including jazz, where his favorite move is the grapevine. From playing a hedgehog in ALICE (in wonderland) to a miniature Russian doll in The Nutcracker and a puppet version of Basilio in Don Quixote, Lance has embraced each role with dedication.
“We didn’t know anything about ballet. It’s a big commitment, but we’re there all the way,” says his father, Matt. “Let’s go!”
Lance’s Growing Commitment
For Lance, this is just the beginning. He’s determined to work hard to maintain his scholarship and plans to audition for every Kansas City Ballet show he can.
“When I look ahead into the future, I see more ballet in my life,” says Lance.
With ballet as his anchor, Lance not only found a passion but also learned discipline, focus, and the rewards of perseverance.
Shaping the Future of Ballet
Lance’s journey is a testament to the power of the arts and perfectly illustrates the purpose of R.O.A.D. The program doesn’t just introduce students to ballet – it helps shape its future. By exposing children to dance at an early age, Kansas City Ballet inspires future performers and cultivates a new generation of audiences who will appreciate and support ballet for years to come.
“Ballet needs to be present in the future,” says Jennifer Wampler, Chief Philanthropy Officer for Kansas City Ballet. “Programs like R.O.A.D. help make that happen by introducing creative movement at a young age and encouraging students and their families to develop an appreciation for ballet.”
Jennifer emphasizes that R.O.A.D. is primarily supported through philanthropy, which covers tuition and dancewear for young dancers who are R.O.A.D. Scholars. “This program wouldn’t exist without supporters who value the fact that R.O.A.D. gives children tools to succeed both in and out of the classroom.”
Inspiring Young Minds Through Dance
The R.O.A.D. Program transforms the lives of hundreds of children in Kansas City each year. Supporters like Julie Phillips, a Bolender Society member, make R.O.A.D. possible because they “believe in providing talented children with an opportunity to succeed that they might not otherwise have.” To learn more about the program and how you can support it, please visit kcballet.org or contact Jennifer Wampler by phone at 816. 216.5585 or email at impact@kcballet.org.
Header image: Lance DeMoss-Black commands the stage as a puppet version of Basilio in Act II of Don Quixote. Photo by Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios.
