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Hundreds of dancers from all over the country competed this past weekend in the sixth annual National Ballet Competition in downtown Wilmington.Student dancers ranging from 9 to 19-years-old performed for an international panel of dance professionals at The Grand Opera House.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Karl Lengel is joined by the competition’s Managing Director Taylor Ciampi, and dancers Keira Green – Gold Medalist in the Junior Category – and Kaelynne Moore – Silver Medalist in the Senior Category and winner of Best Contemporary and Most Inspirational Performer – to learn more about the weekend’s performances.

Playing video games and so-called ‘exergaming’ is an effective way of engaging children with autism.That’s according to a new University of Delaware study, which found video games with built-in physical activity components can improve motor skills, movement, and overall quality of life for those on the spectrum.Delaware Public Media’s Joe Irizarry caught up with UD physical therapy professor Anjana Bhat to discuss ‘exergaming’ and engaging kids with autism.

It’s been four years since the COVID-19 pandemic first started, keeping students out of the classroom and learning online for some time.But even when students returned to in-person learning, it appears attitudes about going to school every day had changed; chronic absenteeism in the U.S. has spiked, nearly doubling since 2020.This week, Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon spoke with ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis – who recently wrote about absenteeism – and Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick for more on chronic absenteeism and how Delaware is addressing it.

Entering her 10th WNBA season, 33-year-old Delaware native Elena Delle Donne remains one of the biggest names in women’s basketball.And after being out of the spotlight the past few years due to severe back issues, the former WNBA champion and two-time league MVP is finally back to full health as a member of the Washington Mystics.Delaware Public Media’s Kyle McKinnon recently caught up with Elena Delle Donne during the WNBA’s media day for more on her road to recovery, pay equity for the WNBA, and her love for Delaware.

NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest returns for a 10th year in 2024. Right now, submissions are being accepted as NPR Music conducts its annual search for the best undiscovered, unsigned musicians.This year, the winner will perform their own Tiny Desk concert, headline a 10-city national tour, and for the first time be mentored by a music industry professional.Delaware Public Media’s Tom Byrne chats this week with one of the concert judges, NPR Tiny Desk Contest producer Bobby Carter, about the contest.

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In December, an independent assessment of Delaware’s public education funding system was released recommending substantial changes.The American Institutes for Research study suggests what Delaware spends on education is not enough based on the student outcomes it produces. It recommends the state significantly increase spending while distributing more resources according to student needs and implementing a weighted student funding formula.Lawmakers received a briefing on the report earlier this month and it appears there’s no rush to implement the recommendations offered.This week, contributor Larry Nagengast examines state lawmakers' reaction to the report and the path forward.

First State native Rebecca Raubacher fell in love with horses when she was a young girl after her older sister took her to a farm and put her on a pony. When Raubacher got home, she asked for a pencil and paper so she could draw the animals she’d just seen.That love of art and horses is now on display in Raubacher’s latest exhibit ‘Rebecca Raubacher: Horses & Other Creatures’ at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover.In this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Karl Lengel is joined by Raubacher to discuss her work.

A swarm of environmental threats are driving down bee populations worldwide. In response, honeybees and their keepers in North America became the face of “Save the Bees.”But apiarists in Delaware are sounding the alarm on the ongoing threat to native bee populations.Delaware Public Media’s Rachel Sawicki explores the buzz about bees this week with First State experts and advocates, and what Delawareans can do to help certain bee species take flight.

After five years of planning, the “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled” exhibit makes its debut at the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art.‘Unsettled’ showcases more than 50 fascinating and somewhat disconcerting paintings from throughout Jamie Wyeth’s career.For this edition of Arts Playlist, Delaware Public Media’s Quinn Kirkpatrick and Kyle McKinnon visited the Brandywine for the preview tour of “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled,” with Wyeth and Brandywine senior curator Amanda Burdan.