Dancing Classrooms South Puget SOund

Grant Information
Categories	Education , Arts
Location	United States
Cycle Year	2011

Organization Information
Organization Name (provided by applicant)	Pacific Ballroom Dance
Organization Name (provided by automatic EIN validation)
EIN
Website	http://www.pacificballroom.org

Contact Information
Contact Name	Heather Longhurst
Phone	206-914-9795
E-mail	heatherjlonghurst@hotmail.com
Address	1604 15th St SW Suite 109 Auburn WA 98092

Additional Information
Used for	Funding from the Dougherty Foundation will be used to provide Dancing Classrooms for an entire Elementary School (three 5th grade classrooms) in the South Puget Sound region.
Benefits	Dancing Classrooms builds social awareness, confidence and self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance. Through standards-based, in-school residencies, we use the vocabulary of ballroom dance to cultivate the positive feelings that are inherent in every child. The maturity necessary to dance together fosters respect, teamwork, confidence and a sense of joy and accomplishment which we hope to bring to every child. Ballroom dance is the medium we use to nurture these qualities.
Proposal Description	Dancing Classrooms is offered as a 10-week program to 5th graders with 2 classes each week in 45-minute class sessions. Within these 10 weeks the students are taught 6 social dances: merengue, foxtrot, rumba, tango, swing, and waltz. The students are also given a cultural and historical lesson about each dance. At the conclusion of 10 weeks a public demonstration is held, called a culminating event, to showcase what the 5th graders learned. Research studies and feedback from principals around the nation indicates that the Dancing Classrooms program has a positive impact in the following areas: Social Development, Childhood Obesity Prevention, Drop in Behavior Problems, Positive School Environment, Drop in Absenteeism, Improved Academic Performance, and Increased Parent Involvement. Funding covers costs related to the program including a Teaching Artist (trained by Pierre Dulaine); materials & curriculum; and organizing & administering the culminating event.