Hello Families!
It's a milestone worth celebrating, and if you know Broadway Babies and Kids, you know we've never been very interested in "finish lines."
We're interested in what's next.
The next goal. The next challenge. The next opportunity to grow. The next person we can impact.
What We Mean When We Say "Vector"
At BBK, we talk about creating vectors. A vector is more than a goal — it has both direction and purpose. We decide where we want to go, identify the specific goals and steps that will move us in that direction, and then keep moving forward with intention.
Because growth isn't confined to a year or a season. And neither are we.
From Two Classes to a Community
Nearly ten years ago, Broadway Babies and Kids began in San Carlos with just two classes and a pretty big dream.
Eventually, we found our first home at the corner of Brittan and Laurel. Our big blue building with the rainbow columns really did become a home.
It was a safe, clean and welcoming place where students could learn and perform, but it became so much more than a performing arts studio. Parents gathered. Friendships formed. Students found their people. Families shared their love of the arts.
We educated, entertained and watched our Broadway Babies and Kids grow there until March of 2020.
And…well…you know what happened next.
When the world changed, we did what artists and leaders do.
We persevered. We adapted. And yes — we pivoted. Pun absolutely intended.
We put our values into practice and found new ways to capture imaginations through screens. We created online productions, classes, training and content and connected with families far beyond the walls of our studio.
When it was safe to return, we did.
We shared space with another theatre organization working toward its own return to normal. We rebuilt. We expanded into Foster City and Rocklin. And all the while, we continued dreaming about having a brick-and-mortar home of our own again on the Peninsula.
Today, we have that home of our own: 1314 Old County Road in Belmont is ours.
Growth Takes Time
The transformation of this space has been intentional and, at times, slow. But I've learned that the things worth building usually are.
Like nature. Like training. Like leadership. Like people.
Growth takes time.
We live in a world that loves instant results, quick fixes and "easy." But when everything becomes about getting there faster, we risk losing some of the heart and soul of what makes us human…and what makes us artists.
We want something different for our performers.
We want to teach them to embrace the work, appreciate the process and understand that becoming who they are capable of becoming happens one intentional step at a time.
This Is What Impact Looks Like
Sometimes the magnitude of that doesn't hit me until I see it standing right in front of me.
Mira is one of those reminders.
Nearly ten years ago, Mira came through our doors for Ballet and Broadway Babies My Grown Up and Me.
Actually, saying she walked through our doors isn't quite accurate.
She crawled. Literally. She couldn't walk yet.
Today, Mira is part of our upper-level performance program pathway, American Musical Theatre Conservatory, in the Musical Theatre Company — performing at a level I could only have dreamed about when I was her age. She has earned high-level accolades in competition while also excelling academically and dedicating herself to community service through Girl Scouts.
And, like every young person, she's navigating the very real challenges that come with growing up.
But she's doing it with courage. Confidence. Leadership. And an increasing understanding of who she is and what she's capable of.
Her mom recently shared something Mira said as she walked into class:
"I'm so prepared and responsible now."
That stopped me in my tracks.
Because that is the work.
Yes, we want beautiful performances. We want strong technique, killer vocals and confident actors. We want our performers to achieve things onstage that once felt impossible.
But we're building something bigger.
We're building people who are prepared and responsible.
People who know how to walk into a room with confidence. People who understand commitment. People who can collaborate, communicate, lead, recover when something doesn't go as planned and have the courage to take on the world.
And now something else incredible is happening.
Former students I taught years ago are becoming lead instructors themselves, sharing their gifts and knowledge with the next generation and experiencing that same incredible reward of watching their efforts make a difference in another person's life.
The circle continues.
That is our WHY.
We Grow With You
Over ten years, families have come and gone. Students have grown up. Programs have changed. Buildings have changed. Our community has expanded.
But one thing has remained constant:
We are here to grow with you.
Whatever your vector may be — performing arts, leadership, confidence, community service, academics, personal growth or simply discovering something you love — we want to be part of your community, your resource and your support system as you work toward it.
And I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge something equally important:
You help us grow, too.
Our students, families, faculty and community continually challenge us to look at what comes next — to explore new programs, operations, policies, styles, training opportunities and experiences.
You have shaped BBK right alongside us.
We absolutely could not have reached this milestone without YOU.
Not a Finale. A Next Step.
So while ten years deserves a celebration, this isn't a finale.
It isn't the end of a season.
It's our next step. Our next vector. Our next leap.
And we are stepping into it with enormous gratitude — and with the same passion, gusto, leadership and love for the development, education, appreciation and lifelong benefits of the performing arts that started all of this in the first place.
The greatest privilege is that we get to witness these children grow.
We get to watch them discover their voices, build their character, develop their confidence and eventually become incredible adults.
And, if we're really lucky, some of them will come back and pass what they've learned on to the generation behind them.
Then the journey begins all over again.
Thank you for bringing us to this moment. Thank you for being part of our BBK family. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your family's journey.
And thank you for taking this next step with us as we continue to:
Raise our voices. Build our character.
And dance through life together.
We're so glad you're here.
Now….let's see where we go next…a 5, 6, 7, 8!
Ready to take your first step with us?
Our 10th season is underway at BBK Belmont, Foster City, Folsom and Rocklin — with classes in musical theatre, ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro, acting and voice for performers from 6 months through teens.
Prefer to ask a question first?
Email us at getstarted@broadwaybabiesandkids.com or call (650) 218-6831.