Vlada teaches ballet to children at Jingu community. [Photo/Yongpai App]

A community summer school in Ningbo has welcomed an unexpected volunteer teacher this summer — a professional dance instructor from Belarus.

On July 13, children at Jingu community in Yinzhou district enjoyed a lively ballet class led by Vlada, a 31-year-old dancer from Belarus. Accompanied by upbeat music, the children learned basic ballet movements before joining a street dance session taught by her husband, Peter.

The free classes grew out of a chance encounter two months ago. Ahead of Dragon Boat Festival, Jingu community invited local residents to attend a traditional Chinese medicine clinic featuring the centuries-old practice known as Lu's orthopedic therapy.

During the event, community staff met Vlada and Peter, who had recently moved into the neighborhood, and introduced them to local activities.

Inspired by the warm welcome, Vlada later contacted the community with an offer to teach dance to local children free of charge.

A graduate of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, Vlada has 12 years of teaching experience. She has performed on Belarusian national television, worked with renowned ballet artists from several countries, and received an international award for dance instruction.

Jingu community's summer school offers daytime care for children of working parents. In addition to arts, science and safety education, volunteers help students with their homework and reading exercises, while neighborhood volunteer teams even provide pick-up and drop-off services for families in need.

Peter, Vlada's husband, teaches street dance. [Photo/Yongpai App]