On afternoons from Tuesday to Friday, the sounds of laughter, joy, stomping feet, and rhythmic music ring through the halls of the Henderson Arts Center. The sounds permeate the school as the Dance Outreach Afternoon Program welcomes local elementary school students and Nobles faculty children to learn some dance moves and have fun. This Afternoon Program has been quietly growing in popularity and impact over the past few years, becoming a cherished staple of the Nobles Performing Arts Department.
The Dance Outreach program uniquely combines community service with the arts, as Nobles students take the lead in designing class plans, fostering a positive and inclusive environment, and most importantly, teaching the dance lessons themselves. Meeting five days a week and hosting students on four of them, the program now serves around 30 children weekly. “A lot of what we do in the Performing Arts Department focuses on the creative process and then performance at the end,” Director of Dance Nicole DeWolfe said. The program emphasizes helping children develop confidence, creativity, and a sense of community through joyful movement and self-expression.
Because there are no prerequisites to join the Dance Outreach afternoon program, Nobles students of all experience levels are encouraged to participate. This diversity in skill contributes greatly to the program’s success. “I like to leave space for the Nobles students in structuring the classes. Many of the students have great ideas from summer camp or other experiences with young children,” DeWolfe said. Students bring their unique experiences to the dance floor, learning how to lead while inspiring creativity in younger kids.
For many Nobles students, the program is not only fun but also transformative. “I had so much fun teaching the younger kids and planning out the classes. It really connected two things I love to do,” Sunehri Verma (Class II) said. Verma participated in Dance Outreach during the spring of her sophomore year. Students with dance backgrounds often find renewed purpose in their passion. “I loved being able to be a part of the Dance Outreach program as a dancer because I felt as though I was really giving back to the dance community,” Verma said.
“I had so much fun teaching the younger kids
and planning out the classes. It really
connected two things I love to do.”
While the program is currently flourishing, DeWolfe and the students involved have ambitious goals for its future. Dance Outreach hopes to expand its community-wide relationships and start connections with other community service initiatives. For example, the program is hoping to have performances or classes at local assisted living facilities. “We’re busy with the little kids right now, but we’re always brainstorming[…] there’s a lot of positive energy and optimism around where this program could go in the future,” DeWolfe said.
The Dance Outreach program remains a strong example of how service and the arts can intertwine to build community and spread joy. What began as a small effort to broaden the dance program grew into an impactful and beloved part of the school’s Performing Arts Department. The Afternoon Program not only strengthens the bond between Nobles and the surrounding community but also provides students with an opportunity to grow as leaders, dancers, and mentors. The students and teachers who take part in this program are deeply committed and have a palpable love of dance and a genuine desire to connect with others.
