Website: https://rejoiceballet.com/
Rejoice School of Ballet is a ballet and dance instruction school based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1998 by Patricia Cross, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is incorporated as Rejoice Ministries (EIN 62-1791396). It offers classical ballet training to children and youth, with additional adult classes, and combines its instruction with a mission centered on accessibility and inclusion. Its stated mission is, “Motivated by Christ’s love, Rejoice School of Ballet empowers youth to realize their potential by training, nurturing, and celebrating dancers from diverse racial, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.” The school describes itself as “dedicated to breaking down financial barriers and addressing historical inequities in ballet, creating an inclusive and uplifting environment rooted in Christian principles.”
Programs
Rejoice School of Ballet offers classical ballet training and related programs, including:
- Ballet classes for ages 4 to 18
- Children’s Division classes
- Ballet Division classes
- Adult classes
- Summer ballet camps held in June and July, plus summer ballet classes
- Performance opportunities and a Youth Ensemble
- A Variation Workshop and a “Ballet Stories” program
- “Read to Me, Dance With Me,” a community outreach program
The school states that it serves “more than 200 students each year” through these offerings. The Children’s Division and Ballet Division form the core of the year-round classical training, while summer camps and classes in June and July extend the program into the warmer months. Community-oriented programs such as “Read to Me, Dance With Me” and the Youth Ensemble’s performances broaden the school’s reach beyond regular classroom instruction, and performance opportunities give students a stage to apply their training.
About
The school was founded in 1998 by Patricia Cross and has operated for roughly 25 years. It is incorporated as a nonprofit under the name “Rejoice Ministries.” The organization emphasizes accessibility, providing free dancewear and costumes to enrolled students, sliding-scale tuition based on household income (described as starting as low as “$16 per month for classes”), and need-based scholarships. These measures are presented as central to the school’s goal of removing the cost barriers that can keep students out of classical ballet training. The website states, “The training and life skills gained at Rejoice help students overcome challenges and succeed in all their endeavors,” reflecting an emphasis on personal development alongside dance instruction.
Location & Contact
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 60172, Nashville, TN 37206
- Phone: 615.208.9744
- Email: [email protected]
The school references multiple Nashville locations, including classes held at the Barefoot Republic Community Center.
Additional Information
The website provides sections for classes and enrollment, tuition and assistance, an about page, a summer overview, and options to donate, volunteer, and contact the school. As a nonprofit, Rejoice School of Ballet supports its accessibility programs in part through donations and volunteer involvement, and offers online registration for its classes. The “Tuition & Assistance” section reflects the organization’s sliding-scale and scholarship model, under which families pay based on household income and need-based aid is available. By pairing classical ballet training with free dancewear, reduced tuition, and scholarships, the school presents its model as one designed to make ballet education available to students across a range of economic and cultural backgrounds in the Nashville area.
Profile compiled from the company’s official website (rejoiceballet.com).