Elementary school students given tour of Nevada Ballet Theatre

More than 75 fifth-grade students from John W. Bonner Elementary School in Summerlin were recently given a behind-the-scenes look into a professional ballet performance at Nevada Ballet Theatre in Summerlin.

The opportunity was funded by a grant from the Summerlin Children's Forum, an organization established in 1997 by community leaders and The Howard Hughes Corp. to improve the quality of education for Summerlin children and families.

"This particular donation was appealing to us because it offered youth a rare opportunity to become better acquainted with one of the state's most iconic cultural facilities, Nevada Ballet Theatre," said Tom Warden, senior vice president of community and government relations for The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of Summerlin. "The students watched as dancers leapt in the air and stood on their toes. It was an inspiring cultural event the students won't soon forget."

Students enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the company's 36,000-square-foot facility, as well as workshops where they received a personal look into dance language (pantomime), costume design and props. In addition, students watched three professional dancers perform an excerpt of a scene from Act I of "Giselle," a ballet that debuted in Paris in 1841.

According to James Canfield, interim artistic director for Nevada Ballet Theatre, "This is the first time a project of this kind was presented for students at Nevada Ballet Theatre's Summerlin facility. We hope to have more students tour the facility in the future," he said.

The Summerlin Children's Forum is designed to provide new educational opportunities and access to technology, literature, art and occupational programs, and establish and foster the development of cultural and recreational activities in the community. All Summerlin schools, both public and private, are eligible to participate in the Summerlin Children's Forum. Summerlin is home to 23 schools.

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties Inc., Summerlin began to develop in 1990.

Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with about 9,000 acres still remaining to accommodate future growth within the master plan, including the community's urban core of Summerlin Centre.

Homes are available in a variety of styles -- from single-family homes to townhomes to condominums to lofts -- and priced from the mid-$200,000s to more than $2 million. Custom home sites in The Ridges are priced from the $500,000s.

For more information, call 888-898-5015, or visit summerlin.com.