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Dance – The Next Generation (also known as DNG) is The Sarasota Ballet’s original community engagement program focusing on community engagement and providing a tuition-free dance education to underserved children in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Operating after school, students in grades 3-12 are immersed in an inclusive, diverse, and well-rounded dance program including academic support, mentoring, and enrichment opportunities.

DNG is more than a dance program, it is a program to nurture, enrich, and support the entire child.  By breaking down financial barriers and providing a supportive environment for children to thrive, DNG is making a meaningful impact to those often underrepresented in classical dance. The Sarasota Ballet’s commitment to the holistic well-being of each DNG student contributes to creating a positive and transformative experience for all.

DNG Mission

To nurture and enrich underserved students through quality dance education while supporting academic growth leading to high school graduation.

DNG Program Goals

  1. Provide a progressive dance education to foster a long-term appreciation for dance and the arts.
  2. Enable students to achieve academic and personal goals while fostering skills leading to high school graduation and post-secondary success.
  3. Enhance the research-proven behavioral and social skills gained through long-term engagement in dance education.

The DNG Expansion

As DNG moves into its third decade of program offerings, opportunities arise to expand DNG further into Sarasota and Manatee Counties with the intent of impacting more students through the discipline, structure, and the innate inclusivity of dance.

Starting Fall 2023, DNG welcomes three divisions to its program:  DNG Workshops, DNG On Location, and DNG at Tallevast.  These three offerings will allow expansion of DNG programming and impact while also utilizing spaces within communities DNG has served for over 30 years.  Both DNG On Location and DNG Workshops allow The Sarasota Ballet to reach further into Sarasota and well into Manatee Counties, while traditional DNG programming continues at Tallevast Studios.

DNG Workshops

Held at sites within the community where DNG Faculty and staff travel to locations providing a DNG experience including after-school snacks, free DNG t-shirts, enrichment, and classes in two dance genres.

Workshops meet for three to six sessions and culminate in an informal in-studio presentation for family and friends.

DNG on Location

All the benefits and offerings of DNG but held at sites within the community for an entire semester or academic year.

DNG At Tallevast

DNG in its traditional format, held at The Sarasota Ballet’s Tallevast Studios. 

For DNG Families

DNG Testimonials