Dancing Outside the Box

Dance Outside the Box was developed in conjunction with Dream Outside the Box to provide children of the Boys and Girls Club with the opportunity to take free dance classes from the Missouri Contemporary Ballet. Kourtney Davis, volunteer with Dream Outside the Box, helps prepare the girls before class begins.

Caroline Milliken, school director of Missouri Contemporary Ballet, instructs the girls in ballet. This spring, Dance Outside the box will be performing with the Missouri Contemporary Ballet at their annual fundraiser, Dancing with the Missouri Stars. The event takes place on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. 

Audio by: Nicole Minardi

Scroll down to view pictures from Dance Outside the Box.

Kourtney Davis prepares the girls from Dream Outside the Box for a ballet class at at the Missouri Contemporary Ballet studios on Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Columbia Mo. The girls have class every Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Kourtney Davis volunteers with both Dream Outside the Box and Dance Outside the Box. Davis commutes with the girls to Dance Outside the Box on Thursday, April 19, 2012 to help with the class.

Lucia Smith, left, and Anaiya Washington, right, follow stretching instructions from Caroline Milliken at the Missouri Contemporary Ballet in Columbia, Mo. The girls learn a ballet routine on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

The volunteers help dress the girls for ballet class at the Missouri Contemporary Ballet in Columbia, Mo. The girls learn a ballet routine on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Anaiya Washington raises her hand to tell the class her favorite part about the performances. Caroline Milliken asks the group questions while the stretch on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Caroline Milliken asks the girls if they were able to make it to the Missouri Contemporary Ballet’s recital. The girls each tell their favorite part of the performance before class begins on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Chi’ayr Chapman, front, describes her favorite part of the Missouri Contemporary Ballet performance while stretching on Thursday April, 19 2012. The girls take turns sharing what they liked best about the performance form the previous weekend.

Lucia Smith and Anaiya Washington get excited for class to begin at the Missouri Contemporary Ballet. The girls learn a ballet routine on Thursday April 19, 2012.

Alice Gray, right , Chi’ayr Chapman, center, Anaiya Washington, center, and Lucia Smith, left, stretch before the ballet lesson begins on Thursday, April 19, 2012. The Missouri Contemporary ballet provides various dance lessons for kids in Dream Outside the Box in Columbia, Mo.

Alice Glay talks about her favorite part about coming to Dance Outside the Box at the Missouri Contemporary Ballet in Columbia, Mo. She has been coming every Thursday evening since the program began in August 2011.

The volunteers bring the ballet shoes and leotards for the girls. Volunteer Kourtney Davis helps prepare the girls for class on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Alice Glay gets her shoes ready to being class at the Missouri Contemporary Ballet in Columbia, Mo. The girls learn a ballet routine on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Caroline Milliken leads the girls in stretches before beginning a ballet lesson on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Caroline Milliken leads the girls in stretches before beginning a ballet lesson on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Milliken is the school director for The Missouri Contemporary Ballet in Columbia, Mo.

Caroline Milliken leads the girls in stretches before beginning a ballet lesson on Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Photos and captions by Emily Kolars and Nicole Minardi