connecting: Gambia ballet factory
Nova Grace Productions has linked up with a ballet school in The Gambia, West Africa, to support their staff and teachers in providing ballet classes and everything that goes with it, to children in the area.
Gambia Ballet Factory is dedicated to creating new opportunities in dance for young people age 6-18 living in The Gambia, West Africa, where interest in ballet and contemporary dance is growing but where opportunities are few.
GBF draws on the inspiration of African-American ballerina Misty Copeland (now principal at American Ballet Theatre) and Michaela DePrince’s journey from an orphanage in the war-torn West African country of Sierra Leone to prima ballerina and principal dancer at the Dutch National Ballet.
They are dedicated to creating a world-class standard for ballet classes, lessons, training, tuition, performance education and expression in The Gambia, and committed to educating and inspiring future generations of ballet dancers and audiences there.
GBF currently run workshops and free weekly classes which aim in increase participation in ballet. In the future they hope to use their centre to offer free community services to other foundations and schools, and use ballet to present life-changing messages that will re-orientate families, children, and youth, re-channel and help develop personal skills they can use positively in life.
At Nova Grace Productions, we have embarked on a partnership with GBF and have committed to supporting the fantastic work that they are doing for young dancers in The Gambia. We plan to send professional dancers from the UK to GBF to guest teach in future but at present we are collecting all ballet related items which will enable GBF to continue and further its work. Do you have:
Flat ballet shoes (good condition second hand also appreciated)
Leotards
Tights
Ballet DVDs
Ballet music CDs
Ballet books
Ballet costumes