Published: Aug 29, 2026 7:00 am
Newtown Academy of Performing Arts, formerly known as The Graceful Planet, brought magic to life in its recent "Toy Story Adventure Camp."
The camp ran from August 10-13 and encouraged children ages 3-6 to “reach for the sky” and “bring their favorite toys to life through movement, imagination, and play.” Campers learned steps such as plié, passé, and chassé while dancing to music from the iconic Pixar franchise, including “I Knew It, I Knew You” by Taylor Swift and “When She Loved Me” by Sarah McLachlan.
Grace Barton, the owner of Newtown Academy of Performing arts, was happy to lead campers every step of the way.
One of the many activities Barton prepared for her campers was an obstacle course, where they could practice all the ballet skills they learned in camp.
The obstacle course had the girls jump into hula hoops, perform a passé on a yoga block, and test their coordination on a balance beam. The girls got an extra challenge after a few laps on the obstacle course, since each had to balance a bean bag on their head while on the balance beam.
The camp culminated in a special performance of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” by Randy Newman for friends and family, after which campers excitedly ran into the arms of their loved ones. This camp was sponsored by Newtown Parks and Recreation.
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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.
Grace Barton (far left), the owner of Newtown Academy of Performing Arts, formerly known as The Graceful Planet, leads students during her “Toy Story Adventure Camp” on Thursday, August 13. The camp ran from August 10-13 and encouraged children ages 3-6 to “reach for the sky” and “bring their favorite toys to life through movement, imagination, and play.” Campers learned steps such as plié, passé, and chassé while dancing to music from the iconic Pixar franchise, including “I Knew It, I Knew You” by Taylor Swift and “When She Loved Me” by Sarah McLachlan. The camp culminated in a special performance of “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” by Randy Newman for friends and family, after which campers excitedly ran into the arms of their loved ones. This camp was sponsored by Newtown Parks and Recreation. —Bee Photos, Visca
From left, Kellsey Rodriguez, Mira Mclaine, Charlie Edwards, and Nora Cyr dance with their own ribbons.
Charlie Edwards (left) smiles as she carefully walks on a balance beam. Grace Barton, who can be seen watching Edwards, set up an obstacle course for her students to practice all the ballet skills they learned in camp. The obstacle course had the girls jump into hula hoops, perform a passé on a yoga block, and test their coordination on a balance beam. The girls got an extra challenge after a few laps on the obstacle course, since each had to balance a bean bag on their head while on the balance beam.
Mira Mclaine (left) fills in the last category of her sticker skill chart while Grace Barton looks on. Students filled out their charts over the course of camp, with each section covering different ballet steps. These steps ranged from “Woody’s Roundup Plié” and “Jessie’s Lasso Turns” to “Bo Peep Tiptoes” and “To Infinity & Beyond Leaps,” with each one’s name referencing a Toy Story character.
