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Making an entrance: Elaine Gardner's inclusive approach to dance at Nichols School.

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Elaine Gardner's Upper School students pile into a vintage gym turned dance studio with their snow-caked boots, drop their coats, scarves, hats and gloves, put out the barres, and get down to serious dance business. "Anyone sore from yesterday?" Gardner asks the group of 15-18 year olds, who have just returned from a long winter break. Today, she eases the dancers back into shape with an eclectic technique class that combines a slow ballet barre, yoga stretching, and expansive across the floor sequences. She's sensitive to the fact that it's only day two of the semester; still she sets a "no slackers need apply" tone right from the get go.

Nichols School is a prestigious prep school in Buffalo, NY, for grades 5-12. Despite its academic focus, the arts have always been a priority. Founded in 1892, the school inherited a dance program when it went coed with Nottingham Academy in 1973. Students are exposed to dance as early as 5th grade and all Upper School students are required to take eight weeks of dance training.

Gardner, 51, has been on faculty since 1986--she's only the third dance teacher in the program's 43-year history. Her students include many who are serious about dance and just as many who will never set foot in a dance studio after graduation. An accomplished dancer and choreographer herself, Gardner takes seriously her charge to make the experience worthwhile for both groups. She's convinced that dance provides an ideal entry into a larger creative arena.

The petite but muscular brunette with wisps of gray derived...