Middle, high school students take special ballet class from American Ballet Theatre

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Nearly 2,200 budding ballet dancers were on stage in downtown Los Angeles Grand Arts High School Friday, and some of them danced ballet only for the first time this week.

The performance was part of the outreach program of the world-famous American Ballet Theatre.

The dancers, from Grand Arts High School and middle schoolers from Gabriella Charter School, gathered for a group photo after their performance.

The Gabriella students had their final rehearsal right before their performance. Their mentors from the theatre, in its education and outreach program called "Make A Ballet," bring dance to underserved communities throughout the country.

For the performance, the students learned a scene from the classic Nutcracker ballet. In addition to the choreography, the students made the set and costumes.

Most of the Grand Arts High School students have had experience with ballet. For the younger Gabriella students, whose charter school has dance as part of its daily curriculum, the more formal ballet lessons were a new experience.