The cost of the 10 week dance series by the American Ballroom Theater Company is $2735, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
I am a guidance counselor at a wonderful school in the Bronx. We are a kindergarten through fourth grade, barrier free school of about 650 students. I love my job! I work with a great administration and staff and during this school year we realized that our kids (like all kids!) love music and dancing.
At the end of each school year, the whole school is involved in a dance festival where all general education and special education students and teachers participate in themed dances. For example, our kindergartners gave a memorable performance of the "Twist" one year! You should have seen everyone's face during that festival! It is a terrific way to end a school year.
What I am proposing is putting into place a program of ballroom dancing for our fourth graders this September. As a guidance counselor, I believe it will be another positive experience to build self esteem, social skills, increase cooperation, and focus the physical energies of our kids. And it will be a lot of fun!
I have found a ballroom dance program used in the New York City public schools called, Dancing Classrooms. The American Ballroom Theater Company, Inc. are the proud sponsors of this extraordinary program. This program is currently in 68 New York City schools and it is based on a 10-week series of 45 to 50 minutes classes held twice a week for up to 30 students.
There is no experience needed! The students will be taught the vocabulary of various contemporary social dances such as the rumba and meringue, and ballroom dances like the waltz, fox trot, and tango. They will also learn about the different backgrounds of these dances. Of course, the "fun" dances such as the Electric Slide and the Macarena will be part of the course as well!
I am humbly requesting financing for one course for the next school year of 2005-2006 for our fourth graders. Continued financing would be considered a God send. I have worked with these students as third graders this year and I believe they will grow immensely with the addition of a program like Dancing Classrooms. They would be provided with another way to communicate, create, and grow while discovering a fun new outlet for their physical energies.
Please accept my thanks in advance for any help you may provide in furthering this program for our school.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Parks and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.