Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh
Mercy Health System, sponsored by the Sisters of
Mercy, was instrumental in bringing an amazing worldwide program to the
students of Pittsburgh, and one that promises to have a life-long impact.
Mark Rogalsky,
MSW, is the manager of Mercy Community Health’s drug and alcohol Prevention Services (and a Mercy
Health System program). The program has been in Pittsburgh Public Schools for
over twenty years. Around 2009, Rogalsky learned about Dancing Classrooms when
his mother encouraged him to take his children to watch the movie “Mad Hot
Ballroom”, the story of
Dancing Classrooms. As he watched, he was impressed with a program that teaches
youngsters ballroom dancing.“Dancing Classrooms launched in 1994 as a not-for-profit project of the American Ballroom Theater Company. It is an arts-in-education program that teaches ballroom dance to students of participating schools. Dancing Classrooms is an in-school residency for every child, regardless of his or her background or experience.
Rogalsky’s program focuses on addiction prevention in
the schools, but he felt that this program would also encourage “prevention” of
so many other things that children suffer from such as poor social skills, lack
of self confidence, and habits that do not promote good physical health and
well-being – in a new way.
“The mission
of Dancing Classrooms is to build social awareness, confidence and
self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance.
Meeting with school, city and county officials,
Rogalsky and Mercy Health Systems pitched Dancing Classrooms and was successful
in bringing the program to Pittsburgh.
Today Dancing Classrooms is in fifth grade classes
in sixteen schools and eighth grade classes in four schools. Rogalski stated
“the program provides curriculum integration because
it teaches various other academic subjects such as writing, artwork, math, and
health and wellness.” The program is taught by world-class dance instructors
Terry and Rozana Sweeney, and Gena Melago. It was founded by Pierre Dulaine.
Preliminary research of Dancing Schools’ effect on
the children has been found to have a
significant impact.
Rogalsky
relates one mother’s powerful comment
regarding her son’s participation in Dancing Schools: “My son showed me how a
woman should be treated.”
Photo © 2013
Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh Mercy Health System.
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