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Left: 5th graders, Korbin Houston and Jocquis Johnson cutting a rug
Photos by May I Have This Dance
Bottom: CICS dance class in action
Dance Dance Revolution by Meghan Schmidt
May I Have This Dance transforms boys and girls into ladies and gentlemen.
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In recent years, dance has made an exciting and profound impact in urban schools with programs that use dance as a medium to build students’ teamwork and communication skills, personal character, and self-esteem. May I Have This Dance, Inc. is Chicago’s leading provider of school-based dance programs, serving more than 50 schools each year, including six Chicago International Charter School campuses. The company’s Executive Director, Nino DiGiulio, holds a master’s degree in education and, together with Director of Youth Programs Margot McGraw Toppen, has designed an engaging dance curriculum geared toward the learning styles of children and young adults. The company’s large and diverse staff of professional instructors has been trained to use the Dancing with Class™ core curriculum to deliver high-quality programming. The teaching methodology focuses on making dance accessible and relevant to all participants.
Each Dancing with Class™ program is customized to the specific school site, with flexible scheduling options and dance styles ranging from ballroom to hip-hop and everything in between. Programs help teachers achieve state-established goals in the areas of social science, physical development and health, fine arts, and foreign language. May I Have This Dance also offers two touring shows for school assemblies, as well as Fortnightly/ Cotillion programs, Parent-Child dance workshops, and teacher training programs. Kids who take part in Dancing with Class™ programs are often reluctant at first, but by the time the program ends, they become enthusiastic, eager dancers. (See “Overcoming Shyness.”) After gaining exposure to a wide variety of dance styles, children discover their own favorite styles—and they’re often surprises by just how much fun dance can be. For more information about May I Have This Dance youth programs, visit www.dancingwithclass.com or call 773-635-3000.
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Overcoming Shyness: On the Dance Floor and Off Last December at CICS West Belden, young Roberto was in tears the day before the May I Have This Dance afterschool club’s debut performance at a school assembly. While he had been doing fine in the dance classes, he was just too shy to get up in front of the whole school and perform. He sat out that morning and watched while the rest of the school cheered for his club-mates as they performed their swing, tango, and merengue routines. Four months later, the dance club was preparing for a Dancing with Class™ competition against neighboring CICS Bucktown. Dance Instructor Miss Margot took Roberto aside and asked him if he would like to perform. Without hesitation, Roberto said yes. On the day of the event, Roberto showed up dressed to the nines and ready to go. On the dance floor, he smiled at his partner and nailed the swing dance routine with confidence. He and his partner made it into the final round and walked out that afternoon with awards in hand and grins on their faces. They hadn’t finished in first place, but they most certainly had won.
CICS Prairie student and dancing queen, Gabryelle Walker
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