Warm up, choreography, goodbye – these are the three basic components of a Houston Ballet X³: Explore, Extend, Excel! (X³) class. One of the organizations 18 Education and Community Engagement programs, X³ is a free, high-energy movement and music class for 3rd-5th graders.
Originally launched as Houston Ballet After School Program (HBASP), the X3: Explore, Extend, Excel! program as it is known today began in 2015, when the program shifted to follow the National Dance Institute pedagogy. In this format, two Houston Ballet teaching artists and a musician meet students on a school campus for a 15-class series which culminates in a themed performance. Each series focuses on a specific topic, likely found in science or social studies, with previous themes including the life cycle of butterfly, space and the water cycle.
Teaching Artist Brittany Bass and Ed White Elementary students rehearsing
Participating schools choose between an in-school or after school format, with administrators increasingly taking advantage of incorporating the X³ program into the school day as principals recognize the benefits. A few to note include increased self-confidence, social emotional learning and teamwork. Many benefits, such as working hard to achieve a goal, can be seen well before the program ends. “You achieve a goal quickly. You achieve a goal in every class,” explains Houston Ballet Education and Community Engagement Program Manager, Lauren Anderson. “The students see that if I keep working hard at something, then I can get better at it.”
Lauren Anderson and Rucker Elementary students rehearsing for final performance
After 15 weeks of goal setting, learning and practicing, the students are proud to see their hard work pay off and share their success with an audience at the final performance. “It’s the cherry on top of the sundae,” says Anderson. The performance is a realization of a long-awaited goal, and peers, teachers, parents and Houston City Councilmembers are invited to bear witness to this accomplishment. On occasion, students have even had an opportunity to perform in the community during Houston Ballet events, including the crowd-favorite Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market.
Rucker Elementary students performing at the 2018 Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market at NRG Center
For Anderson, it’s not just about the performance, but rather seeing the whole journey, witnessing how much fun the students are having and watching them succeed. “I do love the performance, but there’s nothing like the very first time we do the choreography, they complete the dance and the kids get through it for the first time,” describes Anderson. “Seeing their expression – They’re so elated, they’re so excited, they feel so proud!”
With the shift to online classes, now anyone can experience the X3 program firsthand. Though the online iteration of the program is still geared towards elementary-aged students, this is an activity the whole family can enjoy. The online class begins with a warm-up and is followed by five chapters of choreography. One of the best parts about the online experience is that each section can be repeated for as many times as necessary. Once everyone feels confident and successful, the final performance can commence. As Houston Ballet closes out its 50th anniversary season, all are invited to take part in this celebratory dance!
Houston Ballet extends a special thank you to 2019-2020 X3: Explore, Extend, Excel program supporters: The Freebird Foundation, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, The Powell Foundation, Texas Commission on the Arts and Vivian L. Smith Foundation.
By Chenay Newton