About the Nonprofit
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MISSION
The Rock School develops the whole dancer, enabling students to reach the highest standards of technique and artistry in a nurturing, supportive environment that elevates the art form, the dancer, and the audience.
HISTORY
The Rock School for Dance is universally recognized as one of the world’s finest pre-professional training institutions. The School has served the Philadelphia community and beyond for 60 years, from enriching the lives of children in impoverished public schools to developing leading dancers with the world’s top dance companies.
George Balanchine and Barbara Weisberger established the School of Pennsylvania Ballet in 1963 as part of Philadelphia’s professional ballet company. The institutions separated in 1992 following a significant gift from philanthropist and community leader Dr. Milton Rock, who gave the growing school ownership of its building. The school was incorporated on November 17, 1992, as The Rock School for Dance Education. Bojan and Stephanie Spassoff led the School to significant growth and acclaim from 1986 through 2021.
Today, The Rock School is led by President & Director Peter Stark, a former professional dancer who has become one of the world’s most distinguished teachers. The School operates on a $6 million annual budget with facilities that include The Rock School | Philadelphia and a suburban satellite school, The Rock School | West Chester. Boarding students find a comfortable home at The Marine Club in South Philadelphia, and many receive both dance and college preparatory academic education at The Rock School.
Graduates have ascended the ranks of premier dance companies worldwide and on Broadway and London’s West End. Rock students continue to receive top honors in the Prix de Lausanne, Youth America Grand Prix, World Ballet Competitions, USA International Ballet Competition, Moscow IBC, and Berlin Tanzolymp. The faculty includes distinguished dancers, instructors, and choreographers serving over 1,200 students. Today, The Rock School is proud to award over $1.2 million in annual scholarships.
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
The Rock School for Dance’s RockReach program has engaged K-12 participants from impoverished communities since 2000, serving Philadelphia and Delaware County Title 1, public, private, and charter schools with few or no arts education offerings. Structured programs are generally offered for 32 or more weeks each year to every student in a single grade in eleven partner schools.
RockReach programs incorporate special needs students and Individualized Education Programs into their unique offering, including students who are non-verbal, have Autism Spectrum Disorder, have mobility impairments, and are blind or low-sight. RockReach enriches these students’ education experience with professional teaching artists who understand students' unique needs and encourage them to explore movement and music in new ways.
The City Dance program provides scholarships for RockReach students whose dance interests and aptitudes qualify them for the School’s rigorous Professional Division training. Additionally, nearly 3,800 students annually experience The Rock School’s Classic Nutcracker for free through live and virtual performances.
