If your child can’t sit still to save their life, Ballet 314 has good news: They don’t have to.
At Assemblé, young audience members are invited to wiggle, clap, practice pliés alongside professional dancers, and even shake instruments they’ve made themselves. The 45-minute performance is intentionally designed for short attention spans, blending live ballet, narration, and interactive movement into an introduction to classical music that feels more like participation than observation.
Discover fun things to do with the family
Subscribe to the St. Louis Family newsletter for family-friendly things to do and news for local parents, sent every Monday.
On Saturday, February 28, the St. Louis-based nonprofit brings Assemblé to the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles—a fast-paced, fully interactive first ballet experience for young audiences. Kids won’t just watch dancers perform to selections from Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Coppélia—they’ll learn simple ballet steps, explore how different sections of the orchestra sound and work together, and see costumes that visually reflect the music on stage.
For executive director Rachel Bodi, Assemblé is more than a performance—it’s a gateway. “We feel it’s so important to connect with our community in this way so we can grow the next generation of art lovers and participants,” Bodi says.
Built around audience participation and hands-on learning, the program reflects Ballet 314’s broader mission to make the arts accessible and community-centered. For six seasons, the company has brought performances to libraries, schools, museums, and traditional stages alike, striving to meet families where they are. Even its mainstage productions include sensory-friendly elements and adaptive services designed to make ballet feel welcoming rather than intimidating.
That sense of belonging begins before the curtain rises for Assemblé. Starting at 1:15 p.m., children can create their own simple instruments at a craft station—a tactile introduction to the music they’ll hear during the 2 p.m. show. Later, when various sections of the orchestra are highlighted, young audience members can shake, tap, or play along.
“It gives them a sense of agency,” Bodi says. “They made something with their hands, and then they’re participating in the performance. They’re not just watching; they’re a part of it.”
The structure of Assemblé alternates between brief bursts of professional dancing and guided interaction, allowing children to move when they need to move and listen when they’re ready to focus. Each musical selection introduces new sounds, costumes, and characters, keeping the experience visually and sonically fresh.
For many children, this may be their very first live arts experience, as in recent years, families have had fewer opportunities to attend in-person performances due to the pandemic. Bodi adds that this cultural gap makes accessible introductions like Assemblé especially meaningful.
“The arts spark creativity and promote joy,” Bodi says. “But they’re also a gateway to emotional expression. Dance is one of the ways we naturally connect—to music, to rhythm, to each other.”
For families looking to add a little culture to their weekend—without committing to a full-length production—Assemblé offers an approachable entry point; tickets are $25 or $75 for a family four-pack, and the intimate setting at the Foundry Art Centre keeps the experience comfortable and welcoming.
More than anything, Bodi hopes that children leave with what she calls “a spark of joy.”
“Whether it’s someone’s first ballet or their hundredth, there’s something special about coming together to experience dance,” she says.
