“Dance helps with creative thinking, originality, elaboration and flexibility; improves expressive skills, social tolerance, self-confidence and persistence.”

                         Tamara Henry, USA Today

The benefits of ballet have been shown in a 2012 study commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts that found significant connections between high involvement in arts learning and general academic success, including lower dropout rates. The study also found that the arts:

• reach students who might otherwise slip through the cracks
• reach students with different learning styles
• create a feeling of connection and cooperation between students
• create schools that are exciting places for learning and discovery

Another study demonstrating the benefits of ballet showed that students who take four years of arts and music classes (rather than only one-half year or less):

• average almost 100 points better on their SAT scores
• are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement
• are 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair
• are 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance
• are 3 times more likely to be elected to class office

The benefits of ballet are also supported by a 2009 study that found that at age 26, students who had had significant arts education:

• had continued success in academics and in life
• had significant advantages in college enrollment and types of employment
• were strong in volunteerism and voting
• had better jobs with higher pay, more responsibility, more promotion opportunity, and more employee satisfaction