Community Corner
Photos: Students Dance on Stage at Medford Elementary
Students perform in Dancing Classrooms performance.
Students recently performed choreographed dance moves at Medford Elementary School as part of a Dancing Classrooms event.
The performance was the culmination ten weeks of classes, twice a week, for students at the school. The students danced to a variety of styles including Merengue, Foxtrot, Rumba, Tango, Waltz, and Swing.
“I think the most amazing thing about the program is that it’s teaching children how to interact with each other with respect and dignity,” said Jes McAvoy, an administrator with CoDanceCo, a licensed artistic and administrative home for American Ballroom Theater's Dancing Classrooms in Nassau and Suffolk County.
“I’m hoping that we can make a better contribution through cultural arts,” said Medford Elementary Principal Fran Lizewski.
Established in 1994, by Pierre Dulaine and Yvonne Marceau, Dancing Classrooms was formed as the educational branch of the American Ballroom Theater. Besides teaching a variety of dance styles to students, the program is also used to build social awareness, confidence, self-esteem, team work and respect for others, according to its website.
Check the for highlights from the students' performance.
Update: Patchogue Patch previously reported it was primarily fourth grade students who danced but was informed that students in grade 5 were primarily in the event. It has been reflected in the piece.
