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Dec 24, 2006

"Work like you don't need the money, love like your heart has never been broken, and dance like no one is watching." --Aurora Greenway

Dancing Classrooms

It seeks to use the power of dance to do more than just bring elementary school students together. Dancing Classrooms was started in New York City in 1984 under the direction of ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine. In Dulaine's words, "The children learn ballroom dancing, yes; but the real thing they are learning are the transferable skills of decorum, etiquette, being polite with each other, respect, dignity." Today, there are more than 20,000 schools across the country that use and teach Dulaine's dance techniques. Implemented in hundreds of inner city schools, the program has had a profound effect on students previously labeled as, "problem" kids. The recent Hollywood film -- "Take the Lead" -- starring Antonio Banderas, portrays Dulaine's work and its inspiring spirit.