Lyssa-Noel Frater
Source: BroadwayBabiesAndKids
The performing arts provide children with a dynamic space to develop coordination, confidence, and teamwork skills. Movement and music build focus, rehearsal fosters discipline, and ensemble work nurtures empathy. Broadway Babies and Kids (BBK) is an innovative early childhood and youth performing arts organization that blends developmentally appropriate activities with structured technique, helping young learners grow artistically and socially.
BBK was founded in 2017 by Katie Kerwin-Gielniak, following years of hands-on work in community teaching and school program development. Her journey began at the age of 15, when she started teaching while training in the performing arts. That brought her to a renowned art school in New York, where she earned her BFA in Drama. She continued to perform professionally while deepening her commitment to education.
“I saw a real gap in access for young children, so I developed programming rooted in authentic musical and movement experiences, thoughtfully designed to support early developmental stages,” she shares.
Kerwin-Gielniak’s extensive background, spanning national productions and teaching across age groups, continues to shape BBK’s approach in introducing students of all abilities and backgrounds into the performing arts. Her methods blend early childhood development principles with the rigor of conservatory-level training, creating a foundation that’s both artistically rich and developmentally sound.
Building on these experiences, she shaped BBK’s mission to cultivate leadership through the performing arts. The school offers a clear progression, from “My Grown Up and Me” caregiver-child classes to preschool and pre-professional curriculum. These early programs introduce music, movement, literacy, and social-emotional learning through playful, full-body engagement. Ballet, tap, musical theatre, and voice vocabulary are introduced early on, with an emphasis on curiosity and confidence.
Source: BroadwayBabiesAndKids
The Fundamentals program, designed for ages three to 8, forms the instructional core. Students rotate through ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre to build technique and stage presence. Musical theatre integrates voice, acting, and choreography, teaching storytelling as a unified craft. Productions offer structured rehearsal cycles and performance showcases that transform classroom learning into a meaningful stage experience.
For advanced students, BBK offers the American Musical Theatre Conservatory, a pre-professional track for those in late elementary to high school. This intensive program includes company-level classes, elite performance teams, competitions, full-length productions, community service outreach, and the Leadership in Training track. Students can also receive private coaching for competitions, solo showcases, and areas where they need extra support.
BBK’s teaching model also emphasizes personalized instruction. Small class sizes allow for individual attention, and monthly leadership lessons embed goal-setting, accountability, and community service into artistic training. Faculty are active teaching artists who bring real-world stage experience into the classroom.
BBK further stands out for its strong parent-teacher collaboration, which helps ensure that caregivers remain engaged through communication, workshops, and shared production roles. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, BBK swiftly transitioned to online classes and virtual story times, maintaining continuity and connection for families.
It’s worth highlighting that accessibility and community engagement are central to BBK’s mission. Its nonprofit arm, Friends of Broadway Babies and Kids, funds scholarships, subsidizes productions, and supports outreach programs to eliminate financial and accessibility barriers.
BBK’s impact is seen in both personal growth and long-term outcomes. Parents describe shy toddlers who find their voice, school-age children who take on lead roles, and alumni who apply their skills beyond the stage.
As one parent shares, “My girls absolutely love Broadway Babies and Kids. The studio is warm and welcoming, and the kids always look like they are having a blast, while gaining new skills and making friends along the way!” Another credits private coaching for transforming a timid child into a confident performer.
With sites in Belmont, Foster City, Folsom, and Rocklin, Broadway Babies and Kids continues to grow. Kerwin-Gielniak envisions a uniquely dedicated facility that integrates play spaces, conservatory studios, and performance venues. There are also plans to include programming for adults and seniors and expand at-home content to reinforce learning beyond the studio.