A Sound System for my Dance Class-Let the Music Play!

I teach dance to pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students (children ages 4 to 13). During dance class, the lessons and activities often times incorporate music. I would love to have a nice (better than what I'm using now!) sound system for my classroom. Currently, I use a CD player that I bought at Walgreens, and it's just not making the cut. Its speakers don't project the sound well at all. I've only concluded that this is not conducive to a successful lesson and therefore learning. Often times the children are eager to dance, in position, and listening for the cue, but once the music is turned on, they're unable to really "hear" the music. More times than not, my CD player is just not loud enough to really be heard. It's such a disappointment. What I really need is to purchase a CD player for my classroom of much higher quality. A "boom box" system would do wonders in my classroom, and I have seen some for around $300.00 that would suit the purpose perfectly. I would definitely choose a system that has a remote, because I'm generally up and about the room, or dancing with the students, and like to "pause" the music or change to a new song without having to move back and forth from the radio to working and dancing with the students. Another reason why it's so important to me to have proper sound equipment is because the music also motivates my students. My upper grade students bring in music CD's all the time, asking me to play a certain song for the warm up routine, or for a piece they've choreographed and want to practice to. They love the Hip-Hop/R&B, that's for sure! I also like to expose them to all kinds of music (mostly world-music from the Putumayo collection, classical music, or classic jazz). Nevertheless, I know that music is also a motivational tool, and with the proper equipment, I know this would make my life and each student's dance experience much more enjoyable! On the same hand, every class would benefit from having a good sound system and equipment. The primary and intermediate students love to dance, and I wish I had a better sound system to see them really, really get down. There's no pun intended, but literally, they deserve to have the opportunity, and therefore deserve higher quality equipment, which is not a portable radio. When I teach them specific choreography, they're eager to learn and practice, but again, a major downfall is turning on the music, and we can hardly even hear it because my CD player is better suited for a much smaller audience (I've quickly learned!) than twenty to thirty students. The average class-sizes is twenty-five students, and even the slightest noise makes it nearly impossible to hear. Since I have a personal budget that is limited and have spent money in the past on musical instruments, I have incorporated using percussion instruments during dance class, which has been a wonderful experience for the children, and I'll continue to do so. However, I believe that the best dance experience includes variety of music, made possible with CD's. This is why a quality sound system with a remote would be much more conducive to each level of my dance classes, all around! My students deserve the best. I know I try my best to give them the quality instruction and learning opportunities. I also know that they value it and enjoy dance class. I know that if this proposal is accepted, it would support me and my students in numerous ways, hands down! I take pictures of them dancing (during activities or while performing) on a regular basis already, so it would definitely serve my classes in more ways than one!