The Rock School for Dance Education is one of the nation’s premier institutions for classical ballet and dance training, dedicated to enriching the lives of all students and preparing those who are especially gifted for careers as professional artists. Through its multi-faceted outreach program, RockReach, The Rock School is committed to making dance more accessible to local communities by leveling the playing field so that everyone has equal access to art. At the urging of George Balanchine, the Pennsylvania Ballet School was established in 1963. Officially renamed The Rock School for Dance Education in 2006, it continues to offer the highest quality dance training for talented young artists from around the world, as well as an extensive dance and movement community outreach program that now annually reaches 26,000 underserved youth by providing arts and fitness activities to inner city schools. With annual enrollment exceeding 1,200 students at its Center City and suburban locations, The Rock School awards more than $900,000 in annual scholarships, maintains a year-round supervised residence program in Philadelphia, provides a cutting-edge academic program for grades 7-12, and offers extensive performance and competition opportunities.