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WHEREAS, Dancing Classrooms is an arts-in-education program that teaches ballroom dance to students in participating schools. Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh, a part of Pittsburgh Mercy and Trinity Health, and supported by the Sylvia and Martin Snow Foundation and the Global Peace Building Foundation, was first introduced in September 2009 to 300 fifth grade children in six Pittsburgh Public Schools. Since then, 5,000 children in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, local Charter Schools and the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh have benefitted from this renowned, international program; and,
WHEREAS, Students who participate in the 10 week curriculum learn not only the fundamentals of ballroom dance but also invaluable life lessons like team building, cooperation, self-confidence, problem solving, creative thinking , resiliency in the face of challenge, professional courtesy and appreciation for other cultures. Participating schools included Pittsburgh Carmalt, Colfax, Dilworth, Langley, Lincoln, Liberty, Phillips, Weil, Whittier, Environmental Charter School and the Urban Academy; and,
WHEREAS, Teaching artists, Terry Sweeney, Gena Melago, Jennifer Milligan, Hallie Leach, Jennifer Hoffman and Melissa Truby worked diligently to deliver two lessons per week over a ten week period, using the Dulaine Method of teaching ballroom dancing to prepare for a culminating event, “Colors of the Rainbow,” the Fall Team Match Final held at Pittsburgh Allderdice High School on January 7, 2017 with Pittsburgh Dilworth emerging as Champion; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend the Dancing Classrooms Program, the staff and teaching artists who facilitate it and the foundations who support the important lessons that the program promotes and congratulates Pittsburgh Dilworth for earning the “Colors of the Rainbow” Championship; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, February 7 , 2017 to be “DANCING CLASSROOM DAY” in the City of Pittsburgh.