Our Brochure - Dancing Classrooms Long Island

Dancing Classrooms Long Island:
Transforming Lives One Step at a Time™
Celebrating Diversity
Building Social Skills
Strengthening Community
Instilling Confidence
Enhancing Academic Achievement
Promoting Physical & Emotional Well-Being
“
We teach
life skills wrapped up in
”
ballroom dance… This program is about more than dance, it
is about teaching children to take a bow.
Pierre Dulaine & Yvonne Marceau,
Co-Founders American Ballroom Theater Company (ABrT) & Dancing Classrooms
Celebrating Diversity
Strengthening Community Enhancing Academic Achievement
Dancing Classrooms: Transforming Lives One Step At A Time™ is a social development
and arts-in-education residency program for 4th, 5th, and 8th grade students. Through
humor, joy, compassion and the art of ballroom dancing, Dancing Classrooms instills in
youth the power of productive social behavior.
Dancing Classrooms’ teaching method and syllabus cultivates the positive feelings
that are inherent in every child. The maturity and self-awareness necessary to dance
together fosters respect, teamwork, confidence and a sense of joy and accomplishment.
Ballroom dance is the medium used to nurture these qualities.
Building Social Skills
“
You get to
Instilling Confidence
Promoting Physical & Emotional Well-Being
make friends
”
with people you never thought you
would become friends with.
4th Grade Student, Valley Stream, NY
Dancing Classrooms was the subject of the 2005 award-winning documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom” and
inspired the 2006 film “Take the Lead.” This national and international exposure greatly accelerated
interest in Dancing Classrooms from educators, school districts, parents, social workers, health professionals,
and more!
“
Dancing Classrooms helps students
recognize the
humanity of others…regardless
Katie de Bruin, Educational Liaison, DCLI
& NYS Certified Elementary Education Teacher
As a direct result, American Ballroom Theater has licensed and trained over 24 non-profit organizations to
offer Dancing Classrooms to their communities. (www.americanballroomtheater.com/NationalNetwork )
2
”
of color, shape, gender, nationality, or language.
3
“
The Dancing Classrooms program enhances academic
and
learning, furthers our students’ understanding
”
respect for cultural diversity and
promotes tolerance, unity and peace, all through the course of dance.
Celebrating Diversity
Strengthening Community
Enhancing Academic Achievement
Educating The Whole Child
Dancing Classrooms’ syllabus meets New York state standards in the arts, physical education, health, and
career development/occupational studies; addresses Illinois state’s social and emotional learning standards;
and connects with the nationally acclaimed Character Counts!® program.
• Social Emotional Literacy (SEL) – the process through which children develop the ability to recognize and manage emotions, develop self-esteem, and cultivate responsible decision making.
• Physical Education & Health – acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for maintaining life-long
personal fitness and health.
• Dance - demonstrate ballroom dance movement elements, choreographic structures and creative
improvisation skills; understand dance as a way to create and communicate meaning; acquire knowledge
of its history and cultural origins.
• Music - demonstrate physical understanding of rhythm, communicate differences in musical styles and
phrasing; acquire knowledge of its history and cultural origins.
• Character Counts!® - fostering the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility,
fairness, caring, citizenship.
Principal Frances Lizewski, Medford Elementary, Patchogue, NY
Building Social Skills
Instilling Confidence
Promoting Physical & Emotional Well-Being
Dancing Classrooms: Transforming Lives One Step at a Time™ was launched in 1994 by world-renowned
ballroom dancers Pierre Dulaine and Yvonne Marceau as a not-for-profit project of the American Ballroom
Theater Company (ABrT). In 2008 Dancing Classrooms Long Island (DCLI), administered by CoDanceCo,
Inc., became the licensed National Network site for Dancing Classrooms in Nassau and Suffolk County.
Program Description
Dancing Classrooms is integrated into the school day and presented over ten-weeks, with two 40-minute
sessions each week, serving all children in the selected grade level, including special needs children. Students
learn the following in a dynamic and safe setting:
• increased sense of physical and emotional well-being;
• a strong sense of balance and flexibility;
• the ability to respect differences
in their peers;
• the skills necessary for effective team work;
• the ability to dance in
harmony with a partner;
• a diverse range of social ballroom dances; and
Through curriculum integration with English/Language Arts, Geography
and Social Studies students complete oral and written activities developing
the skills to:
• analyze and express their personal experiences;
• demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and geographic origins of
American music and social dance forms;
• illustrate how cultural traditions inform civic values, positive character
traits, and good citizenship.
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• the music and cultural history of each dance form.
96% of Principals surveyed see a positive change in how students
treat each other and 80% believe
Dancing Classrooms
has a positive impact on
academic performance.
(source: National Network
Principal Survey)
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“
After watching everyone perform, I cannot imagine that any of you
will not
perhaps,
use what you have learned,
for a lifetime. I am looking forward to a
”
good tango with you, grandson.
Grandmother of a Wilson Elementary 5th grade student, Rockville Centre
Celebrating Diversity
Strengthening Community
Enhancing Academic Achievement
Dancing Classrooms In Your School - It Takes A Team!
The Dancing Classrooms Educational Liaison and Teaching Artist work in partnership with the Principal,
Teachers and key staff members throughout the residency.
Residency Highlights: The magical journey begins with a pre-residency planning meeting with the school
team followed by an orientation for the students.
•
Lessons - Teaching Artist co-teaches the first lesson with the
Educational Liaison and the journey begins! During the residency
the students learn Merengue, Foxtrot, Rumba, Tango, Salsa
(8th grade only), Swing, Waltz, Heel-toe-polka (4th, 5th grade only),
and several line dances.
“
I was…impressed with the pacing,
progressive
skill development,
”
fitness levels and enthusiasm with which
these lessons were taught.
Peter Gatto, Gym Teacher, Willow Road School, Valley Stream, NY
Building Social Skills
Instilling Confidence
Promoting Physical & Emotional Well-Being
Introduce Your School Community to Dancing Classrooms
Dancing Classrooms Assembly*
Students who have recently completed the Dancing Classrooms residency take your students on an imaginary
journey to discover the history and styles of ballroom dance. The assembly is led by Dancing Classrooms
Long Island staff, culminates in a medley of
dances performed by professional dancers.
Length: 60 minutes
Grade Levels: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th
Fee: $1250
Master Class/Introduction for
Teachers & Administrators*
Even the most dance shy educators will
enjoy learning the basics of the Merengue
and Swing followed by an exploration of
teaching methods and classroom applications.
• Lesson 10 Film of professional dancers co-taught by Teaching Artist
and Classroom Teacher.
• Lesson 12 Guest Buddy Teaching Artist visits for a live demonstration.
• Mid-residency planning meeting for culminating event activity.
Length: 1 hr. 15 min.
Fee: $300
• Lesson 19 The rehearsal for the Culminating Event.
• Lesson 20 Culminating Event Performance! Family and friends
cheer on as the students celebrate all they achieved.
Visit a Residency in Progress
DCLI staff will arrange for a school’s team
of teachers and administrators to visit a
lesson in progress at a school in Nassau or
Suffolk County.
• Dancing Classrooms Long Island Festival – A springtime island
wide celebration open to all participating schools. Schools
can select to have exhibition teams or choose to participate
in the Colors of the Rainbow Team Match competition as
depicted in the documentary film “Mad Hot Ballroom.”
Dancing Classrooms residency fees are charged on a sliding scale,
ranging from $1600 to $1950 per ten week, 20 lesson course*.
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*Program Fee Support
The Dancing Classrooms residency, assembly,
and master class/introduction are eligible
for state aid reimbursement through Nassau
and Suffolk BOCES. For more details please
contact us at codanceco@gmail.com.
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JOIN US! BE A PART OF CHANGING LIVES!
Become A Donor
It takes a full community effort to provide Dancing Classrooms for school districts. The school residency fees
only support 50-60% of our costs. We hope you will join us in making it possible to bring Dancing Classrooms
to as many Long Island youth as possible.
Celebrating Diversity
Strengthening Community
Enhancing Academic Achievement
Please visit
www.dancingclassroomsli.org
for more information about becoming a
Teaching Artist or to Volunteer!
Contact Us
Nancy J. Duncan, Producing Director
CoDanceCo, Inc.
205 Durkee Lane
East Patchogue, NY 11772
Cell: 646-345-5234
codanceco@gmail.com
www.dancingclassroomsli.org
CoDanceCo, Inc., founded by Producing Director Nancy
Duncan, is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated
to fostering the physical, social, and creative health of
youth and adults through the art of dance.
All Photos © Rich Wheeler
Celebrating
Diversity
& Emotional
Well-being
Community
Building Social
Skills Promoting
InstillingPhysical
Confidence
Promoting
PhysicalStrengthening
& Emotional Well-Being
“
The only way to succeed is to work
together. I believe that ballroom
dancing brings the classroom together and
”
brings out the best
in all of us.
5th Grade Student, Long Beach