Donna Jacobs Brings Pirouettes and Life Lessons to Baltimore Ballet Studio

Morton Street Dance Center founder has spent decades teaching students confidence, discipline, and life skills through dance.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 12:03am

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Donna Jacobs, the founder and director of Morton Street Dance Center in Baltimore, has dedicated her life to teaching ballet and instilling valuable life lessons in her students. Starting dance at just 2.5 years old, Jacobs believes the art form has the power to build confidence, discipline, and essential skills for the real world. At her studio, students from all backgrounds feel a sense of belonging and family, with Jacobs and her instructors caring deeply about each child's growth beyond just dance technique.

Why it matters

In a city like Baltimore that faces challenges with youth development and community engagement, Donna Jacobs' approach to ballet instruction provides a nurturing environment for young people to thrive. Her studio has become a hub for building character and life skills that extend far beyond the dance floor.

The details

Jacobs started dancing at a very young age and says it "did amazing things" for her confidence and understanding of the world. At Morton Street Dance Center, she has created a space where students from all backgrounds feel they belong, with a focus on growth mindset and life lessons rather than just dance technique. Former student Moniq Bevans, now an instructor, says Jacobs' teaching went beyond just '5-6-7-8' to include how to carry yourself, be prepared, and show up. Parents also feel a strong sense of community, looking out for each other's children. Jacobs sees the studio as a "training ground" for the real world, where students can make mistakes and learn in a safe environment.

  • Donna Jacobs has been teaching ballet in Baltimore for decades.
  • Moniq Bevans has been a student at the studio since she was 9 years old.

The players

Donna Jacobs

The founder and director of Morton Street Dance Center in Baltimore, who has spent her life teaching ballet and instilling valuable life lessons in her students.

Moniq Bevans

A former student at Morton Street Dance Center who is now an instructor, having been part of the studio family since she was 9 years old.

Angela Wells-Sims

A parent of a student at Morton Street Dance Center who feels a strong sense of community at the studio.

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What they’re saying

“I started dancing when I was two and a half years old and it did amazing things for me in terms of my confidence — my ability to understand where I was in life, in the world, where mastery was and where exceptionalism could be.”

— Donna Jacobs, Founder and Director, Morton Street Dance Center

“Even at a young age, my first year being there, she definitely helped me to step out of my comfort zone.”

— Moniq Bevans, Instructor, Morton Street Dance Center

“The parents, we have our own, you know, let's get together, exchange messages. Everyone looks out for everyone else's kids, but the girls can't wait to see each other.”

— Angela Wells-Sims, Parent, Morton Street Dance Center

What’s next

Donna Jacobs plans to continue expanding the reach and impact of Morton Street Dance Center, providing more Baltimore youth with the opportunity to learn ballet and develop essential life skills.

The takeaway

Donna Jacobs' approach to ballet instruction at Morton Street Dance Center demonstrates how the arts can be a powerful tool for building confidence, discipline, and community engagement among young people, serving as a model for other youth development programs in Baltimore and beyond.