Lawrenceville and Philadelphia Ballet Inspire Young Audiences

Thanks to an ongoing partnership with the Philadelphia Ballet, Lawrenceville brought professional-level dance performances not only to Lawrentians but also to nearly 500 guests from local elementary schools.

On April 24, students from Christina Seix Academy, Lawrenceville Elementary School, Lawrenceville Intermediate School, and Princeton Junior School visited campus to experience "Peter and the Wolf," performed by members of the School of Philadelphia Ballet. 

Lawrenceville’s Director of Dance Derrick Wilder said, “I have always believed that an arts education is vital for nurturing creativity, self-expression, and critical thinking, and within that, dance holds a unique significance—it not only promotes physical health and discipline but also fosters emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and a deepened connection between mind, body, and spirit, making it an essential component of a well-rounded education.”

Visiting school leaders viewed the program as a fun and vibrant extension of their students' arts education. Kristin Burke, principal of Lawrenceville Elementary School (LES), expressed her satisfaction.  “My goal was to expose students to live ballet that deepens their understanding of how music, movement, and storytelling work together to convey a narrative,” she said. “The goal was absolutely met—they were engaged, attentive, and made meaningful connections to what they have learned in their music classes at LES.”

Burke noted that her students were captivated by how each character came to life through movement and how instruments represented different characters, calling it "cool."

Gregg Zenerovitz, assistant principal of Lawrence Intermediate School (LIS), was impressed by the insightful questions his fourth graders posed after the performance, showing their captivation. He remarked, “Many of the teachers commented that there was a lot of ballet taking place as the students got off the buses and entered the LIS hallway upon their return!”

Christina Seix Academy Fourth Grade Teacher Ashley Ingram shared that her students initially felt uncomfortable but ended up enjoying the ballet, with one student even planning to do ballet at recess.

Burke praised the quality of the performance, saying, “I was speechless. The production was beautifully done—accessible, engaging, and artistically rich. The dancers were talented and conveyed the story wonderfully through movement.”

Besides the performance, the visitors enjoyed exploring The Lawrenceville School’s campus. Ingram mentioned her students’ excitement over the facilities, while Zenerovitz highlighted the intimate setting of the Allan P. Kirby Arts Center, making students feel part of the show.

Wilder said, “The Philadelphia Ballet dancers were deeply moved and energized by the students' attentiveness and inquisitiveness, their eyes wide with curiosity and minds buzzing with questions—it was clear they were not just watching, but truly engaging, eager to uncover every nuance and meaning behind each movement.”

The day left a lasting impression on the young visitors and reinforced Lawrenceville’s commitment to sharing the arts with the broader community. Through its partnership with the Philadelphia Ballet, the School continues to create opportunities for students of all ages to experience the transformative power of live performance.

Performances by the Philadelphia Ballet were a delightful warmup for the School’s annual Spring Dance Series. After their performance for campus visitors, Philadelphia Ballet School members danced "Allegro Brillante" along with “Peter and the Wolf” in the evening for current Lawrentians. Lawrenceville’s own dancers showcased their talents in the school’s annual Spring Dance Series on April 26. Performers from Lawrenceville’s dance troupes shared their best moves in styles including Bollywood and Indian Classical, Street, K-Pop, Afro Fusion, Latin, and more.

Lawrenceville’s relationship with the Philadelphia Ballet, which began in 2021, has included everything from dance workshops and shared warm-ups to campus performances and backstage visits.

Interacting with both the professional and students associated with the Philadelphia Ballet, Wilder said, “has been a great opportunity for our dancers to see what it's like to be connected to a passion, to pursue that passion, and the choices that are made in pursuit of becoming a professional dancer.”

See additional photos from the Philadelphia Ballet performance and the Lawrenceville Spring Dance Series on the Lawrenceville School Flickr page.

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.