Heart of Dance
Booth 62
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dancing Classrooms, established 25 years ago in New York as a 10-week, 20-session, in-school arts residency, is an SEL program that uses partner dance as the platform to teach essential life skills such as respect, elegance and teamwork. Now a global program in more than 30 cities, offered in MN by nonprofit Heart of Dance, it has impacted more than 5400 fifth and eighth graders throughout our state in just 3.5 years. Dancing Classrooms students overcome cultural and gender barriers, create and strengthen relationships, and improve self-confidence.
In follow up surveys, teachers tell us bullying is reduced, students work together much better and are more engaged in other classes. Shy students come out of their shell, speak up and participate more. Special needs students, ELL and other non-traditional learners find a place to shine where there is no achievement gap because everyone starts together at square one.
Parents say their child is excited to go to school on dance days and they make friends with classmates they wouldn't otherwise get to know. They are more engaged at home, spend less time on a screen, talk more about school and dance, and even teach the steps to family members!