Imagine if you were a child and your great dream was to be a professional dancer and were given the opportunity to perform side-by-side with a Broadway performer? Lainie Munro, a professional performer created the Broadway Big Brother/Big Sister Program from scratch -- just so she could give young people that opportunity.
Munro, who also teaches at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, saw how talented her students were and how they all wanted to perform. She realized that they needed mentors. "They get their training, but they need somebody to say, "Here's how I did it." I remember when I was younger thinking 'I want to do that, but how do I get into this business? "I wanted somebody to say, "Hey kid. Here's how I did it and kind of be my friend."
And in 2001 she created the Broadway Big Brother/Big Sister Program where kids perform with a dancer in the Broadway community. The young students who range in age from 10-16, are matched with Broadway cast members from a number of shows including On the Town, Pippin, Jersey Boys, Shrek The Musical, the Lion King, Anything Goes, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying and more. Working side by side with their Big Brother or Sister, the children rehearse a production number and get to dance before a large audience. The kids gain an invaluable life changing experience learning about the joy, hard work and discipline it takes to be a professional performer. Just last month they performed "Put on a Happy Face" at the Broadway Dance Center Student Showcase to a wildly enthusiastic crowd.
Outside the studio, the youngsters have an instant role model and mentor. The dancers invite their young siblings to their shows, give them backstage tours and even coach them for auditions. And now the program has come full circle. Gabrielle Salvatto, once a little sister, grew up to become a professional dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and returned to the program as a Big Sister to mentor and dance with a young person. "When I started the program I thought one day they'll grow up, become professional dancers and maybe come back and be a Big Sister or a Big Brother," says Munro. "It really is how we pass all this on, so that the current generation of performers can train the next generation."
And here are the Big Sisters (and Brother) with their Litter Sisters (and Brother).
Jennifer Swiderski and Katarina Fradenburg
Byron St. Cyr and Brando Ortiz
Courtney File and Kristen Beth Williams
Lea Kohl and Sawyer Niehaus
Tanya Birl and Skye Jackson-Williams 
Janelle Neal and Hailey Arango
Chelsea Davis and Holly Butler 
Colleen Hawks and Starr Shapiro
Carli Seigelstein and Heather Parcells
Tari Kelly and Lara Bamberger 
Anne-Allegra Bennett and Lainie Munro 
The Broadway Big Brother/Big Sister Cast 
Photo credit: Jessica Fallon Gordon
All photos used with permission.