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 combines physical movement and literacy support for children in early elementary school. During the ninety-minute session, university volunteers guide participants through a structured dance class followed by a shared reading period. Kids spend the first half learning basic choreography and the second half working one-on-one with a mentor on reading comprehension and literacy activities. This program is designed specifically for children ages 6 to 9 and takes place at the Durham County Library main branch. There is no cost to attend, but you must register in advance by emailing the organizers directly. The library has a dedicated parking deck with free parking for the first four hours, making it easy to get in and out without driving around downtown. It is an excellent Saturday option because it balances high-energy physical activity with quiet, focused learning. Your child gets to burn off some energy in the dance portion and then transition into a calm reading environment, all under the supervision of enthusiastic student mentors.
