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Inside Just Dance studio near West Potomac High School, young dancers practice pliés and tendus at the barre with guidance from four teenage mentors.

West Potomac Dance Team members Georgia, Sydney, Adalae, and Rachel lead the ballet students, all of whom were born with Down syndrome. The weekly classes are part of The Purple Tutu, a program supported and funded by Alexandria nonprofit ArtSpire.

The arrangement gives the younger dancers an accessible, authentic ballet experience while helping the high school students develop leadership and teaching skills.

Erica Kraft said such opportunities can be difficult to find for her 13-year-old daughter, Elsie, who attends Sandburg Middle School part-time and is also homeschooled.

“It’s not very common to find legitimate dance programs that are uplifting and free, and catered to students with Down syndrome,” Kraft said.

She said the program builds confidence and pride among the dancers while giving them an experience that is “fun with a capital ‘F.’” Kraft also praised the high school mentors for their work with the class.

The dancers prepare for two performances each year. Their winter appearance comes in the Land of the Sweets scene of the Alexandria Community Nutcracker. In the spring, they return to the stage for “A Celebration of the Arts,” a fundraising showcase featuring local young performers.

Rachel, a West Potomac junior leading this year’s student mentors, said she was initially nervous because she had never taught before. The experience has since allowed her to take on a new leadership role.

“It is so rewarding to be a part of this program and see these girls grow as dancers,” Rachel said. “We make a community here.”

Rachel said dance helps her express herself, and she hopes it provides the younger students with the same opportunity. The current mentors were selected for the role by graduating students who previously helped run the class.

The Purple Tutu began as a nonprofit organization in South Carolina more than a decade ago. West Potomac graduate Madison Harden-Stein brought the program to Northern Virginia after her family moved to the area in 2016.

The program is now part of ArtSpire, which provides grants so children can participate in performing arts classes at no cost.

For Elsie, the appeal is straightforward: “I like ballet because it is fun and I get to see all my teachers.”

Each weekly class ends with hugs and high fives, underscoring the community that has formed among the dancers, mentors, and their families.