Reflexões sobre o impacto do balé clássico em três comunidades periféricas de Fortaleza.

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of classical ballet on child development in peripheral communities of Fortaleza, Ceará. Drawing from my experience as a ballerina and teacher, the study proposes a reflection on how ballet education can be adapted to engage with the sociocultural contexts of the children involved. The experience of teaching ballet in the Serviluz neighborhood, where I was born and raised, served as the starting point to understand both the challenges and the potential of this dance genre in territories marked by social exclusion. The research was conducted in three projects: ADCE (Associação dos Moradores do Castelo Encantado), Associação Beneficente Sol Nascente (Serviluz), and Balé Jovem do Pirambu. The methodology included the application of questionnaires to parents, teachers, and managers, as well as semi-structured interviews with teachers, aiming to understand how ballet is taught in these spaces and its possible impact on children’s development.