Sandler On The Road
When the Arts Walk into the Community
Sandler On the Road (OTR) is what happens when the magic of the stage refuses to stay put.
What is OTR?
Before the pandemic, the Sandler Center Foundation welcomed more than 65,000 students into the Sandler Center for free, curriculum-based matinee performances. When the world shifted, we shifted with it. Live shows were paused, buses were scarce, and schools were working hard to rebuild literacy and connection-based matinees. When the world shifted, we shifted with it.
So, we flipped the script.
If students couldn’t come to the arts, the arts would come to them.
Two Main On The Road Initiatives:
DANCE
In partnership with Richmond Ballet, the State Ballet of Virginia, we bring the wonder of live dance straight into Title I schools across Virginia Beach — turning cafeterias and gym floors into places where stories leap to life.
Since the pandemic, OTR has brought live dance experiences to more than 5,500 students — and counting.
OTR transforms beloved ballets into lively, kid-friendly demonstrations filled with:
- Professional dancers who move like the stories are alive inside them
- Narration crafted for curious Kindergarten–5th grade minds
- Interactive moments where students get to wiggle, wonder, and join in
It’s not just a performance — it’s a spark. A reminder that imagination is a muscle, and the arts help it grow.
Behind The Curtain
In the spring of 2026, OTR returned with a dreamier tale: Sleeping Beauty. Fourteen Title I schools met Aurora, the Lilac Fairy, and the rest of the story through dance and hands-on learning.
Each demonstration is thoughtfully aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning, and teachers receive guides to help extend the magic before and after the performance. Richmond Ballet handles all scheduling and logistics, making the experience seamless for schools.
This project was supported, in part, by the
Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and whose generosity helps keep the arts accessible to every child.
S.T.E.A.M.
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)
In partnership with the US Navy Fleet Weather Center Norfolk and premier music group BrassWind, we are opening up the world of careers in the sciences, using the arts as an accessible vehicle to meet the next generation of engineers and performers where they are.
In its pilot year, OTR S.T.E.A.M. reached 13,000 students.
The S.T.E.A.M. demonstration, “Sailors, Storms, and Spotlights,” emphasizes career pathways through:
- Combining meteorology, oceanography, and live performing arts for 5th grade and up
- Interaction with passionate real-world industry professionals
- Engaging presentations that put students centerstage
"Sailors, Storms, and Spotlights" gets up close, educating kids about the technology behind real-world weather scenarios. Their curiousity is ignited, and their questions are answered right there on the spot.
Behind The Curtain
During the 2025-2026 school year, students from Chesapeake and Virginia Beach Public Schools were the first to meet Fleet Weather Center Norfolk’s meteorologists and BrassWind’s musicians. They approached instruments and Naval technology with eagerness, roaring with cheers as lightning and thunder were recreated—indoors!—before their eyes.
Each demonstration is aligned with
Virginia Standards of Learning
with input from teaching artists. SCF provides all administration; staff and subject matter experts coordinate planning and production, ensuring an accessible run-of-show.
Get an in-depth look at STEM Day at the 2026 NAS Oceana Air Show
Presented at the NAS Oceana Air Show on Friday, September 18th: We were on the flight line as 8,300 5th grade students from Chesapeake and Virginia Beach visited with STEM, and in our case STEAM (A for the Arts), career pathway demonstrations. This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly. Collaborators were Brasswind and Fleet Weather Center Norfolk, US Navy.
We hope to continue the impact of Sandler On The Road; making waves in the future of our local arts community. Here’s how you can help:
Sponsor a child or even an entire class by donating to SCF. Your gift goes directly to support this program!
