By Danny R. Peralta
dannythepoint@gmail.com
In the sun-drenched gymnasium at St. Athanasius school on Southern Boulevard, formally dressed 5th and 8th graders sat expectantly in a large circle, waiting for their big moment.. Dozens of parents, siblings, students, and local residents lined the walls of the auditorium with video and digital cameras hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite young dancer.
Then they got their chance. The young dancers showed their stuff for a half-hour, switching frequently between dancing partners while dancing in small teams, showing off what they’d learned over the winter months.
For 10 weeks leading up to the June rehearsal, about 65 boys and girls from the school took part in Dancing Classrooms, the program made famous in the 2005 cult film Mad Hot Ballroom, which documented a group of New York City kids for whom learning to dance in their schools becomes a passion.
The program, which was launched in 1994 as a non-profit venture of the American Ballroom Theater Company, teaches 5th, 8th and 12th graders from over 200 classrooms across the city the fundamentals of the merengue, foxtrot, rumba, tango, swing, heel-toe polka, salsa, and the waltz, before they get to compete in the citywide competition. This year’s final event was held in Manhattan on June 23rd.
“Its about much more than just dancing”, said instructor Anna Maria Correa. “It inspires youth to conduct themselves elegantly.”
Alee Reed, a liaison for the program, described it as“an arts and educational program designed to build confidence, self-esteem, and social awareness..”
5th grader Damian Covallecillo had to overcome an initial dislike of dancing, but now that he has, he finds Dancing Classrooms compares favorably with his other favorite pastime, sports. , He even entertains the idea of becoming a dancer one day “if I don’t become a football or baseball player”.
As young and old danced to a disco medley, Covallecillo pulled his mother out of the crowd and onto the dance floor.
A version of this story appeared in the July 2010 issue of The Hunts Point Express.