Raptors enjoy first experience with Backstage at the Ballet

December 18, 2025

Robinson Elementary School students pirouetted their way into a firsthand look at the world of ballet this winter. 
 
Hundreds of Raptors enjoyed lessons about dancing, costumes and makeup during the school’s first Backstage at the Ballet experience. Lincoln Public Schools students and Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company (LMBC) leaders taught sessions about “The Nutcracker” in December. Twenty-five performers capped the week with a series of ballet dances in front of the entire school.
 
Robinson second grader Gracie experienced the freedom of leaping in the air during a mid-morning activity. High school students gave the Raptors tips about how to twirl, tap and turn to music from the famous ballet’s second act. Gracie said it was fun to learn dance moves with her classmates in the gym.
 
“I like it because I get to move around,” Gracie said. “I really like the one where we jump and we’re like a star.”

 

Later in the morning, third grade students traveled to the art room to create their own costumes for the ballet dancers. They used materials like fabric, ribbons and beads to design dresses and uniforms for the stage. Emry said she enjoyed picking out everything for her pink ballerina outfit.
 
“What I liked is we got to customize it and design it however we wanted to,” Emry said.
 
Krista Couton was thrilled when she saw those creative moments happen in classrooms. Robinson’s general music specialist reached out to LMBC organizers two years ago to ask if they would consider coming to Robinson. The group had already chosen a school for that year, but Couton learned this fall that the Raptors would have a chance to be in Backstage at the Ballet. Robinson opened in August 2022 and serves more than 400 students.
 
“I teach ‘The Nutcracker’ every year to kids because I feel it’s a great introduction to ballet and it has really famous music,” Couton said. “I was excited to have it come to life for them this year.”
 
Couton said many Robinson teachers shared her happiness when the Backstage at the Ballet announcement came. They remembered when choreographers, dancers and artists came to their elementary schools growing up in Lincoln. LMBC Artistic Director Shari True said Backstage at the Ballet has visited 36 LPS buildings during the program’s existence.

 
Couton spent time one morning watching the Raptors work on their costume designs. She said it was a great chance for students to increase their creativity, independence and decision-making skills. Emry and classmates like Majdallah, Franklyn and Kathryn worked hard on their crafts and were proud to show them to their teacher afterwards.
 
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing kids just take ownership of their materials and their projects and want to make something they’re really proud of,” Couton said. “They’re able to feel that connection to the story they’ve been learning about for years. It’s really neat.”
 
Those links came to life at the end of the week when the LMBC presented portions of the ballet at a school assembly. Maralee Maldavs, the LMBC head costumer and costume builder, led a team that created clothing for 156 dancers in this year’s production. Cast members wore those outfits as they performed in the gym, which True said was special for students to see.
 
“It’s really cool for you to get to see the dancers up close and personal,” True told the audience.
 
One of the presentation’s highlights came when more than a dozen Raptors joined the dancers for a song. Gracie was among those who were selected during their choreography tutorials earlier in the week. Her eyes lit up when she learned that she had been chosen to appear with the LMBC crew.
 
“I was very excited,” Gracie said. “I really like dance.”

 
All of the dancers then introduced themselves to students at the end of their performances. They came from multiple LPS middle and high schools and had varying amounts of experience. Southwest High School junior Hayley was taking part in the LMBC’s annual ballet for the ninth time, and other students had only been in the production for several years.
 
Couton said she felt the Backstage at the Ballet experience had been a success. She said Robinson students had learned important lessons about the fine arts and the behind-the-scenes effort that happens for each performance.
 
“I think it’s huge because so much of this specific type of art starts from a young age,” Couton said. “It’s something they can really get involved with now if they want. Even if they choose not to do ballet, I think it’s cool for them to start noticing these things from a young age. They can grow up with an understanding of just how much work goes into what they see on stage or what they buy a ticket for.”
 
One of the goals of the 2024-29 LPS Strategic Plan is to extend learning beyond the classroom through activities like Backstage at the Ballet. Visit home.lps.org/strategicplan to view more information about family and community engagement at LPS.
 
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