MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS)— The Milwaukee Ballet is switching to a virtual format to better serve its students during this time.

Sports and activities for kids have somewhat come to a halt during this safer at home time. However, ballet dancers from the Milwaukee Ballet have found a way to stay on pointe from home.

Typically you would see dozens of young boys and girls pointing and flexing their toes in the Milwaukee Ballet studio. But due to the coronavirus, they are staying home.

“They were actually supposed to have their year end recital next week, so they actually reached out to us and said what can we do online,” Milwaukee Ballet Director of Community Engagement, Alyson Chavez said.

There are a few hundred students in the long standing Milwaukee Releve program. They work hard throughout the year to learn about the arts and perfect their points. 

“When you rise up its called a releve in ballet. This program serves 280 students from MPS from three schools, so Alba, Allenfield and Parkside. During the school year from October to the end of April, the students these kids come to Milwaukee Ballet once a week for a ballet class,” Chavez said.

The program helps to build self esteem, grace,  and poise. Sadly, their final recital they have been working for all year wont be happening. Which is why their teachers are bringing the choreography to them.

“We decided that teachers needed to stay home, so they are filming the classes fro their homes. For students we are doing a zoom class and for the releve program the teachers are recording a zoom class and sending it to their kids,” Chavez said.

Switching things to online is giving the kids a chance to stretch, point, and plie their way through this quarantine.​