By Currents News
Students at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy in Forest Hills, Queens are waltzing their way to life skills that will put them a step ahead.
Fifth and 8th graders at the school put on their dancing shoes Thursday, March 6 for a performance and final lesson with “dancing classrooms,” a program that spans 10 weeks and teaches school children the basics of ballroom dancing and essential life skills like teamwork, elegance, and respect.
Senior teaching artist Felix Pitre says that in just a few classes students “swing” out of their comfort zones and get in rhythm. “They’re really enjoying it, having fun and maybe for those who are still a little uncomfortable, they’re here to put on a show,” he tells Currents News.
“I never knew how to dance. I never knew how to move my hips. I never knew anything about music,” 8th grader Noah Edmond explains. “And I learned so much from this experience.”
“As we progress on and on, it really began to change my perspective,” adds classmate Sophia Christie. “I definitely learned to respect a lot of people.
At the end of the performance students grabbed a proud family member from the audience onto the dance floor.