Students from the Julliard School of the Performing Arts teaching local kids

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Soothing sounds came from the dance room at Sequoia Middle School in Southeast Fresno. Five students from the Julliard School taught the kids how to open up and improve their dance skills.

"It was like really cool, and they're really fun," said Esteisy Valencia, 7th grader.

Sequoia is Fresno Unified's only campus which offers a beginning ballet class.

"I thought it was going to be hard dances and stuff, but they actually played games with us," said Celia Gonzalez, 8th grader.

The kids said the games made the learning experience so much more fun.

"They got to see, kind of, a different side, and if they didn't have that discipline first off they would never have this opportunity to actually enjoy playing games like that," said Monica Petrucci, dance teacher.

One of the Julliard students was Clovis North grad, Miriam Gittens.

"New York is so far and it's like a trek to get back here, so to be home and be with family and teach and just be familiar with everything has been so nice."

Gittens started dancing at the age of three, so introducing these kids to new concepts was special.

"A lot of them haven't had ballet training, like technique, so it's amazing to see how hungry they are," said Gittens.

The Julliard students were on the west coast as part of a community outreach program.

"It's so refreshing to leave the school environment and really see how we can use the skills that we learn on a daily basis in such a different context," said Angela Falk, Julliard School senior.

The enthusiasm shown by the Sequoia and Roosevelt High students was reflected in their smiles.