CAIRO, Ill. (WSIL) — In a world where opportunities can feel out of reach, one Cairo program is opening doors through the art of dance. The Cairo Ballet Academy Youth Conservatory is giving young people across southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Southeast Missouri, the chance to step into the spotlight at no cost.

More than just pliés and pirouettes, the academy’s free program focuses on building discipline, sparking creativity, and instilling confidence that lasts long after the final curtain call. Organizers say the goal is to help students gain skills that will serve them on stage and in life.

Classes are held every Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at the Harold S. Jones Fine Arts Center, 815 Commercial Ave., Cairo, IL.

The program is designed for youth who are eager to train in

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