Pacific Ballroom Dance (PBD), an Auburn nonprofit dance studio, recently organized a successful Dancing Classrooms competition called Colors of the Rainbow at Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way.

Dancing Classrooms is an outreach program of social ballroom dancing for fifth-graders in local schools. PBD facilitated the 10-week, 20-session social development program for children who use ballroom dancing.

Teaching artists Heather Bryant, Adam Lee, Erin Briones and Chantell Ray are sharing diverse backgrounds in dance education.

The Colors of the Rainbow Team Match semifinal included 36 couples from six elementary schools in the Seattle area: Franklin Elementary of the Tacoma School District; Minter Creek, Purdy and Vaughn elementary schools, with Peninsula SD; Mountain Meadow Elementary of White River SD; and Sunrise Elementary of Enumclaw SD.

The children showed off their learned skills on how to dance the merengue, foxtrot, rumba, tango and swing. They accumulate points from three guest judges to earn bronze, silver or gold medals and trophies for their school.

Results:

Gold – Sunrise Elementary and Mountain Meadow Elementary

Silver –Franklin Elementary and Purdy Elementary

Bronze – Minter Creek Elementary and Vaughn Elementary

“It is truly incredible to watch fifth-grade boys and girls who start out timid and sometimes a little freaked out at the prospect of dancing with their peers, transform into beautiful/handsome, confident and poised young ladies and gentlemen,” said Cam Briggs, Dancing Classrooms director.

For more information about classes or upcoming events, go to pacificballroom.org.