New York City Ballet dancers teaching choreography to group with disabilities
UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- From the music to the precise moves, a group of lucky individuals is getting a rare opportunity to learn ballet from the pros.
New York City Ballet dancers are teaching choreography to participants with the Beautiful Lives Project, an organization committed to creating immersive opportunities to individuals with disabilities to participate in sports, arts and community activities.
"I love to dance. I can do anything no matter my disability," said Elise Olsen, a participant with the Beautiful Lives Project.
"This is the first time with New York City Ballet," said Beautiful Lives Project board member Amanda Young. "We're excited. I mean it's New York City Ballet."
Principal dancer and ballerina, Isabella LaFreniere, is helping lead the group.
"To teach these workshops and to see their faces light up. When they hear the music, when they put the movement with the music, it's so rewarding," she said.
She and soloist dancer Davide Riccardo are teaching choreography from two of their most recent showsinside New York City Ballet's rehearsal studio, like the popular George Balachine's "Symphony in C."
"'Symphony in C,' which is a beautiful dazzling Balanchine ballet that has a lot of dancers on stage in beautiful tutus and covered in Swarovskicrystals," LaFreniere said. "We're also teaching them a section from Firebird which is a ballet that I performed."
LaFrenierewas the lead.
"The Firebird is a strong female leading character," she said. "She's a little bit flighty and fluttery and in a forest and then her prince captures her, but she has this magical power feather."
It's an inner strength that many are learning to use.
"My favorite was that," said participant Maria Natale. "It helps me focus and energize."
"It has the power to connect and bring people together," said New York City Ballet Associate Director of Education Meghan Gentile. "To see people be hesitant at first and be like, 'I don't know if this is for me,' just to unlock that and have fun and breathe together an experience art together, it's just beautiful."
New York City Ballet has been offering these types of workshops for the last 11 years. This one is one of about 50 offered each year.
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