DANCING CLASSROOMS SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
Since 1994 Dancing Classrooms has served over 300,000 children. During this last school year (2010- 2011) the program served 42,000 children in 509 schools in 24 cities. At last, Dancing Classrooms®, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, has arrived in Southeast Florida!
Dancing Classrooms Southeast Florida (DCSFL) is a curriculum based in-school program that utilizes ballroom dancing as a vehicle to teach social awareness and build self-esteem in 5th and 8th grade children. The program is designed to change the lives of not only the children who participate in the program, but also the lives of the teachers and parents who support these children. Over the course of each 10-week (20 class) session the Teaching Artists use the vocabulary of ballroom dance to cultivate the positive feelings that are innate in every child. The maturity necessary to dance with a partner fosters respect and teamwork, which, in turn, leads to better social relationships.
The confidence, sense of joy, and accomplishment the program brings to every child has shown to contribute to anti-bullying behavior. Research has also demonstrated that DCSFL contributes to obesity prevention and school retention.
DCSFL is more than simply teaching ballroom dancing; it is about improving lives. Children break through social barriers as they learn about honor and respect. They learn to value themselves and others as they increase their communication skills. Through dance, children learn cooperation and acceptance, and regard for others.
DCSFL's Teaching Artists, working in tandem with classroom teachers, ensure that students connect their ballroom dancing experience with art, music, history, language arts and physical education. This curriculum integration often leads the children to demonstrate a marked increase in creativity in other artistic disciplines such as poetry and fine arts.
We take the dance that is inherent in children’s’ bodies and help them embrace that power. We encourage and enable our students to discover the best of who they already are and share it with their partners, their families, and their communities.