School of Nashville Ballet’s 2026 summer camps invite young dancers into a world where movement, storytelling, and creative play meet

In Nashville, where creativity often spills from the stage into everyday life, summer at the School of Nashville Ballet is being cast as something more than a seasonal pastime. The school has opened registration for its 2026 Summer Camp schedule, offering half-day camps that introduce children to dance through movement, imagination, and the foundations of classical training.

Designed for young artists ages 3 to 9, the camps combine dance instruction, basic choreography, visual art projects, and structured active play. Each week culminates in a short in-studio performance for family and friends at The Martin Center for Nashville Ballet, giving students an early glimpse of the ritual and reward of performance.

For Jennifer Kulev, Director of the School of Nashville Ballet, the value of the program reaches beyond the studio. “Early exposure to ballet helps develop discipline, creativity and an appreciation for the arts,” she said. “These programs provide a welcoming introduction to ballet while encouraging confidence and self-expression.”

Summer as a Stage

The 2026 camp lineup reads like a child’s map of the imagination: mythical creatures, story ballets, animal kingdoms, Broadway stages, royal courts, animated classics, and dances that leap across decades of social history.

Magical Creatures Camp, for ages 4 to 6, will run June 1–5 and July 6–10 from 9 a.m. to noon, inviting dancers into a fantasy landscape of fairies, unicorns, mermaids, dragons, and wizards.

Once Upon a Time Story Ballet Camp, for ages 7 to 9, meets June 1–5 and July 6–10 from 1 to 4 p.m., using beloved ballets—including The Nutcracker—as entry points into plot, character, music, and choreography.

 

Animal Adventure Camp, for ages 3 to 5, takes place June 8–12 and June 22–26 from 9 a.m. to noon, encouraging students to explore movement through the characteristics of the animal kingdom.

Broadway Stars Camp, for ages 6 to 9, runs June 8–12 from 1 to 4 p.m., blending tap and musical theater with kid-friendly selections inspired by shows such as Mary Poppins, Newsies, and The Music Man.

Royal Celebration Camp, for ages 4 to 6, will be offered June 15–19 from 9 a.m. to noon and June 22–26 from 1 to 4 p.m., surrounding young dancers with the regal figures, stories, and music of ballet tradition.

 

Cartoon Classics Camp, also for ages 4 to 6, meets June 15–19 from 1 to 4 p.m. and July 13–17 from 9 a.m. to noon, drawing on animated stories and familiar screen characters as sparks for movement and play.

Dance Through the Eras Camp, for ages 7 to 9, runs July 13–17 from 1 to 4 p.m., tracing the social life of dance from the Charleston to country line dancing, hip-hop, and the TikTok age.

Dance, Culture, and the First Language of the Body

What distinguishes the camp series is not only its curriculum, but its belief that children encounter culture first through play. A fairy tale becomes choreography. A cartoon becomes rhythm. A Broadway number becomes a lesson in timing, ensemble, and confidence. In that sense, the camps belong as much to the civic life of Nashville’s arts community as they do to summer scheduling.

Students must meet age requirements by June 1, 2026. No exceptions.

Registration is now open. Families can learn more or enroll at www.nashvilleballet.com/summer-camps.

Families enrolling in a second camp may receive $50 off by calling 615-297-2966 x 910 or emailing school@nashvilleballet.com before registering.

This discount is not available through online checkout.