STEM Is Everywhere: TWC Showcases the Science of Ballet
Connecting Minds at the Charlotte Pride Awards
By Stephanie Richin, Community Investment Manager and Nichie Wilson, Events Manager
At Time Warner Cable, we are constantly finding new ways for kids to see that learning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is cool and exciting. We do this by changing their perceptions on STEM used in their favorite activities like sports and the arts. Once such way we have achieved this is through an activity that shows the scientific principles of ballet.
Our focus for STEM is on children; however we recently modified our Science of Ballet activity to highlight our Connect a Million Minds initiative at the 2015 Charlotte Pride Awards on January 17th. The awards are hosted by Pride Magazine, a bimonthly publication targeting the needs and interests of Charlotte’s African-American community. The annual Pride Awards Gala is a one of a kind event in Charlotte that is attended by the elite in the Charlotte business community.
The Gala’s focus in 2015 was on the importance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). We successfully supported their “Innovation with STEAM” theme by working with professional dancers from the Charlotte Ballet to demonstrate the science of ballet throughout the event.
Five ballet dancers entertained the crowd during the opening reception on branded pedestals and two demonstrated physics as they performed a pas de deux The Physics of Ballet on stage during the dinner. The presentation was the highlight of the event and elicited cheers from the audience that included local celebrity and American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino.
Dee Dixon, CEO of Pride Magazine, commented on the addition of our STEAM programming, “The Physics of Ballet was a great and enlightening addition to the evening. One guest told me she specifically bought a ticket after learning of the ballet performance. Thank you for your innovation and thinking outside the box!”
Our goal for supporting this event with the Science of Ballet was to inspire other companies to support STEM and STEAM activities to help our students become the future problem solvers of the world.
