Beyond the Barre
Our Commitment to Community Outreach
Beyond the Barre (BTB) is a peer mentorship program where BTB members get paired with a Harvard Ballet Company member. Company members will serve as a friend in the local ballet community and can be an accountability partner, as well as give tips and tricks for mentees who want to improve their dance skills. Mentees receive news about dance opportunities and events, get to join select HBC classes, and gain a behind-the-scenes look into how the semesterly Harvard Ballet Company shows are put together.
How to Join
Beyond the Barre is a non-selective, no audition program, meaning that participation in the program is purely based on availability of Harvard Ballet Company members to match with. The program is first come, first serve but registration is rolling, meaning that as soon as we have a mentor for you, you will be matched.
Mentorship
Mentors will be grouped into mentor/mentee pairs or families, with one mentor for one to two mentees. Mentor/mentee pairs and families will be matched by concentration, extracurricular interests, career interest, and any identity that is important for the mentee to have in common with their mentor—mentees will identify such identities in the registration form. Mentor/mentee matches will not be by dance skill.
What to Expect
Beyond the Barre is primarily what the mentee wants to make of it. This being said, there are no specific guidelines the mentor and mentees have to follow. However, we encourage a first one-on-one meeting between the mentor and mentees, such as a coffee chat (on us!) where you discuss preliminary goals for the partnership. Beyond the Barre can be as structured or as flexible as you would like it.
Perks
A built-in buddy to go to dance class with! The dance space at Harvard can be difficult to navigate - it can be difficult to get motivated to attend class if you don’t know anyone else who will be there; now you’ll always have someone to ask!
Discounted Boston Ballet tickets! If you register for ballet classes at the Harvard Dance Center, oftentimes, you have access to discounted tickets!
News about local opportunities! As a mentee, you receive newsletters with opportunities to engage in local arts (shows to see, auditions to attend, fun classes, and more)!
Monthly Company Class! Aside from attending classes in the Cambridge/Boston area and at Harvard proper, Beyond the Barre members will get to attend monthly HBC-member-taught company classes at the Office of the Arts
Registration
If you are interested in participating, there is no application! Just fill out the registration form and we will match you with a mentor when they become available.
Please reach out to our DEI chair, Katherine Byunn-Rieder, at kbyunnrieder@college.harvard.edu with any questions!