New Orleans Ballet Association

NEW ORLEANS � In January, the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance returned to Treme to offer tuition-free dance classes for local youth. Currently celebrating its 16th year, the Center for Dance is a nationally award-winning program that continues to develop into a multi-generational program offering free dance training to any child ages 6-18.

Although the program has maintained a high retention rate, coordinators are now witnessing a new trend�former students returning to enroll their own children. In 2001, Shellisa Moore and Laquana Ruffin graduated from the Center for Dance program. Now, 8 years later, Laquana has enrolled her 6-year old daughter in the program, which is being taught by student-turned-teacher, Shellisa. Programs at Behrman NORD Center and Annunciation NORD Center have also had previous students enroll their children as participants in the program.

�I think it�s a truly wonderful thing to see former students returning to enroll their own children. It keeps the tradition alive and shows that that the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance is a quality program. NOBA opened a lot of doors for me, especially while I was in college, and I�m proud to be a part of the faculty as the program continues to get bigger and bigger,� said Shellisa.

Since its founding in 1992, the NORD/NOBA Center For Dance has had only one known teen pregnancy and zero instances of criminal activity among students that remained in the program to graduation. By actively engaging students through the arts students may be less likely to seek out unhealthy behaviors that result in negative life changes. Through sequential training and ancillary activities, the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance programs encourage students' artistic development and the strengthening of their life skills, while also attending to their personal and physiological needs. With the addition of Treme, the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance free after-school programs are now offered at all five NORD centers throughout the area, including Annunciation, Behrman, Cut Off and St. Bernard.

NOBA is the Central Gulf region�s premiere presenting and service organization dedicated solely to the art of dance. NOBA�s dynamic Main Stage season annually features a diverse array of world-class companies and artists. Each year NOBA provides concerts, classes, workshops and lectures to more than 25,000 area dance enthusiasts of all ages. In addition, NOBA�s nationally recognized award-winning education programs provide the youth of our community access to quality arts programs with 2,500 free dance classes and workshops annually at eleven sites throughout the Greater New Orleans area. With a mission of access to the art of dance, more than 90% of all NOBA�s activities are free to the public.

NORD/NOBA Center for Dance

The NORD/NOBA Center for Dance is a cultural community partnership between the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) and the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA). Founded in 1992 with seed money from the Freeport-McMoran Foundation, The Center was born out of a need to make dance accessible to all school-age children. A program that began with just 30 students now has an annual gross enrollment of more than 250 children at 6 NORD centers citywide. With a core curriculum of ballet, classes are open to any child in Orleans Parish with a demonstrated interest in dance. Through a professional faculty, master classes by NOBA Main Stage artists and other visiting artists, a mentor program and field trips, the Center works with each child to cultivate dreams and strengthen futures. The NOBA programs are a recipient of the 2005 Louisiana Governor�s Arts Award, 2005 Big Easy Classical Arts Award, and 2002 Coming Up Taller Award.

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