For the Reporter

The Auburn Rotary Club recently pledged a $12,000 grant in order to bring Dancing Classrooms to more schools in the Auburn School District in 2016.

The grant will cover the cost of the program in one of each participating school’s fifth-grade classrooms.

Dancing Classrooms is a social and emotional learning program designed to break down social barriers and instill confidence in children using the vehicle of ballroom dance. Dancing Classrooms Greater Seattle is a branch of the global Dancing Classrooms organization and is locally managed by Pacific Ballroom Dance, a non-profit youth-focused ballroom dance studio in Auburn.

The Auburn Rotary Club has granted more than one million dollars in scholarships to Auburn students over the years.

“Auburn Rotary has always supported our local students,” said Mark Horaski, president of the Auburn Rotary Club. “That is why we are especially thrilled to partner with Pacific Ballroom Dance by rolling out a program that will be helping our younger students as well.”

The club is a branch of Rotary International, a community service organization guided by the mantra “service above self.”

Schools that elect to participate in Dancing Classrooms are assigned a professional teaching artist to present the program in all of its fifth-grade classes, including a culminating event at the end of the 10-week residency. Through standards-based lessons, Dancing Classrooms uses the vocabulary of ballroom dance to cultivate the positive feelings that the founder believes are inherent in every child. The maturity necessary to dance together fosters respect, teamwork, confidence and a sense of joy and accomplishment.

School staff and teaching artists see firsthand the affects of Dancing Classrooms on students.

“They gain confidence in themselves and are proud of each other,” shared Erin Briones, Dancing Classrooms teaching artist and Auburn resident.

“I have seen classes work together to treat special needs students with respect and love,” said John Graham, artistic director at Pacific Ballroom Dance. “Their conduct toward these said students is accepting and inclusive.”

Dancing Classrooms is already operating in Terminal Park and Hazelwood elementaries, and Rainier Middle School.