Charlotte Ballet

Charlotte Ballet provided a report on the Murgitroyd Foundation’s investment in their Reach Scholarship Program, which empowers young students from economically marginalized neighborhoods in Mecklenburg County with well-rounded, quality dance training, free-of-charge. 

The Murgitroyd Foundation’s funds were used to support live musical accompaniment during Charlotte Ballet’s 2024/2025 Reach Season at our Ivory Baker Recreation Center and Hickory Grove Recreation Center class locations.

The $2,500 grant enabled Charlotte Ballet to provide Reach students with a robust arts and culture experience by engaging a local musician. Baba Freddie Rivera integrated live drumming in our West African and Latin-Fusion dance classes, enriching the educational experience through authentic cultural engagement. Baba Freddie is deeply rooted in the tradition of the dynamic interaction between dancer and percussionist, so these classes mirrored historical practices where music and movement are inseparable.

With a drummer present in the West African dance classes at Ivory Baker Recreation Center, Reach students were immersed in the traditional call-and-response framework central to West African performance. Charlotte Ballet Teaching Artist Javonne Gbenyon enhanced this tradition by using vocalization – ululating to echo and amplify emotion, further bridging dancer and drummer. This vocalization is not just expressive; it’s participatory and improvisational, reflecting the communal nature of West African dance and music. Baba Freddie improvised alongside Javonne’s ululations. His polyrhythmic response not only supports the movement, but also introduces musical complexity and variability, fostering students’ adaptability and cultural literacy. Live accompaniment thus provides a foundation for understanding polyrhythm and improvisation, essential elements of West African musical expression. 

Impact of Murgitroyd Foundation Grant 

• 33 hours of live accompaniment was provided by Baba Freddie throughout the Reach season 

• 44 Reach students received dance training with live musical accompaniment, engaging with the art forms aurally, visually and physically 

• 17 of those 44 students have already auditioned and been invited back to the Reach program for next season 

• Two of those 44 students were awarded competitive summer scholarships for Charlotte Ballet’s Academy, one of whom will also continue to train on scholarship in the Academy next school year as a Reach Scholar 

“Having Baba Freddie as an accompanist in my West African class not only allows for the students to hear and dance alongside live accompaniment but also fully learn language and history of the culture in which I am teaching. Baba Freddie provides insight into the background of the instruments he is using, where they originated and how they are played throughout the course of the year.” – Javonne Gbenyon, Charlotte Ballet Teaching Artist 

“My son was able to learn how to play the clave with Baba Freddie as part of his West African dance class. He was so engaged in the musical aspect of class that his instructor and accompanist provided him with an opportunity to play the clave. This was the start of his love for dance merging with another arts discipline and now he would also like to continue learning further on the instrument. We are excited to see where his interest grows from here.” – Parent of Reach student 

The 2024/2025 Reach Season recently culminated with a Year-End Showcase at Charlotte Ballet’s Center for Dance. The email accompanying this report includes photos of the West African and Latin- Fusion dance performances, providing a glimpse into the joy and pride with which these Reach students shared their hard-earned talents with their families. 

Thank you once again for the Murgitroyd Foundation’s generous support of Charlotte Ballet. 

Douglas Singleton – Executive Director