1 Feb 2008
The Dancing Classrooms Program is Offered at Six District Schools
DALLAS–Dallas Independent School District fifth grade students at Barbara Jordan, Felix G. Botello, David G. Burnet, Stonewall Jackson, and Pleasant Grove elementary schools and Martin Luther King Jr. Learning Center are improving their vocabulary and social skills, plus building their character through foxtrot, meringue, rumba, tango, swing, waltz, line dance and other rhythms.
The arts-in-education program, Dancing Classrooms of the American Ballroom Theater Company, teaches social dance to children to motivate mutual respect, social skills and self esteem.
The program, conducted by certified dance instructors, is a 10-week course, which students attend during their physical education class, twice a week.
"The students don't just learn the steps; they also learn the history, culture, and vocabulary of each dance," said Staci Wells, physical education teacher at Jordan Elementary School. "And as they switch partners they learn to respect one another, and they learn that to be good dancers, they have a responsibility to each other."
Dancing Classrooms also benefits students' health. "Dancing is a great way to get fit," said Paul Brown, physical education teacher and coach at Jordan. "It builds the mind and body through movement and focusing energy."
Thanks to the success of the program, it will be added in 13 more schools in the spring.
For more information about the program, contact the Fine Arts Department at (972) 932-5190.