(Chelsea Update would like to thank Bob Milbrodt for the information in this story.)
Ballet Chelsea board member Jane Thompson spoke to the Chelsea Kiwanis Club last Monday, explaining it is a 501-C3 organization with 275 students from Washtenaw, Wayne, Jackson, and Livingston counties.
Students range in age from 3 to 65 years, and are practicing many kinds of dance besides ballet. She was happy that 98 percent of their students go to college or the military.
Ballet Chelsea offers dance instruction, which gives kids discipline, and helps them with time management in addition to healthy exercise. All are told to do their best, instead of comparing themselves to other dancers.
In addition, Ballet Chelsea is a performance company, with a spring show on May 11 in Jackson and a yearly production of the Nutcracker.
An Adaptive Dance Program works with folks of all ages with any mental, physical, or cognitive impairment.
Ballet Chelsea goes to 20 different sites to conduct this program. Plans are to expand to all of Washtenaw County, and 5 Healthy Towns helps to fund the program.
In the future, with help from the Ann Arbor Community Foundation, Ballet Chelsea will take the art of dance to the underserved in the area as part of a community outreach.
On May 10, members will assist with Nancy Cooper’s Fun Run at Hudson Mills Metropark. Each May, hundreds of children from all over Washtenaw County participate in this 3-5-8 mile run/walk on a paved trail throughout the park. Joined by their families, teachers, and caregivers, kids of all abilities get some fresh air and exercise, followed by a nice picnic lunch.
Helping out around the course are volunteers from groups like Chelsea High School Key Club and National Honor Society. Our club is honored to help cheer on the participants and award ribbons to finishers.
Chelsea Kiwanis meets each Monday at 6:15 p.m. in the St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital cafeteria, and the speakers begin at about 6:45 p.m.
Everyone is invited to the club’s meetings to enjoy our speakers and learn about Kiwanis.
Go to www.kiwanisclubofchelsea.org for more information.
