The Dancing Classrooms project

Four years ago our 4th graders started a new school project. They  took part in the “ Dancing classrooms” program. I was lucky to attend some ballroom dancing lessons to get fully involved in the practice and to be a part of this great event outside the dancing classes. From the very first lessons I realized that dancing lessons helped my students solve social problems. It helped them learn about honor and respect, improve self-confidence, cooperate, listen to others.

The pupils learned to behave in “ a lady- gentleman” way even outside the dancing lessons. Students were taught the vocabulary of various dances in a classroom setting. The vocabulary was presented and taught  in English by the dancing teacher,which made the dancing program multidisciplinary .There was a unique and successful combination between English lessons and a dancing practice.  My  teachers colleges and I decided to do something more than just repetition and learning the dancing vocabulary. We decided to turn this dancing program into an interdisciplinary project. The kids wrote a story with the “dancing plot” in Hebrew. I translated it into English and the 4th grade student Ella Gavor brilliantly illustrated it. This is how the scrapbook “Everybody, dance now” came to life It was successfully presented at the school dancing ball along with the other materials in English and Hebrew that were created in the classes who took part in the dancing program. After the ball I was asked to send all the materials to the Dancing Classrooms headquarters in Netanya. Then they were sent straight to NYC Dancing Classrooms manager Alee Reed. This is a short quote from her email :

Thank you for doing this so fully – and more!  I love that you created a way to enhance English studies with ballroom by teaching the dance vocabulary in the classroom, and that the repetition in the ballroom lessons helped reinforced what they learned.  And you made it fun, too, by combining creative writing with art, and even word puzzles! I am giving you a standing ovation right now!!!

For me as an English teacher “The Dancing classrooms” program was an unforgettable experience and a new challenge . It was also a fun activity as well. The unique combination of several school subjects made it the most educational, inspiring and memorable school event ever!