Duke Ballet & Books is a group of Duke University student volunteers who run free arts and literacy programming for 6-9 year olds. There are two parts to every Ballet & Books session: 1. 45-minute ballet class where students learn choreography to perform at an end-of-semester showcase. 2. 45-minute reading mentorship session where mentors and students read together and do related activities aimed at helping build literacy skills. To learn more and register, contact duke@balletandbooks.org
Duke Ballet & Books is a free community program that pairs university student volunteers with children ages 6 to 9 for dance instruction and literacy support. The ninety-minute session is split evenly between a physical movement class and a quiet reading mentorship period. What to Know: The program takes place at the Durham County Library Main Branch on Roxboro Street, which offers free parking in the attached deck. Your child should wear comfortable clothes they can easily move in, though formal dance attire is not required. Because space is limited and mentors are paired individually, you must register in advance by emailing the organizers. This is an excellent Saturday option because it balances physical energy with quiet learning. Your child gets to burn off some steam in the dance portion and then settle down for focused reading practice with an encouraging college mentor.
