Carpe Dance News

FALL 2010

Carpe Dance Mission

Our mission is to build social awareness, confidence and self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance, empowering children, their parents and their schools. 

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Visit us on the web at www.carpedance.org to learn more about our organization and sign up for our mailing list.

Support us by donating at www.carpedance.org 

Carpe Dance is an Associated Program of Shunpike

Highland Park Elementary Student Responses to First Class

“Well to tell you the truth I had a lot of fun but that still doesn’t mean it wasn’t weird, but I am really looking forward to this experience this spring.” Najaha

“I’m excited about dancing in the spring because my mum will be proud of me.” Shelina

It felt awkward because I’m not used to boys being so close to me. It felt like I was going to someplace special and dancing with someone I don’t even know.” Mynique

“I am excited to dance in front of an audience because I want to show my skills. I am nervous about dancing with a boy because I never danced with one and then I will get used to it.” Maria

Introducing Highland Park Elementary

We are pleased to announce that Highland Park Elementary will be the first school to showcase the Dancing Classrooms Residency in Seattle. Many thanks to Laura Drake, Multi-Arts Specialist, and Stephanie Paolone, Literacy Specialist, for facilitating this program in their school starting in March, 2011.

Pierre Dulaine taught the first class at Highland Park Elementary

Pierre Dulaine, founder of Dancing Classrooms, was in Seattle on October 7^th as part of a National site tour and taught a group of 5^th grade students at Highland Park Elementary the first class of the Dancing Classrooms program. The full session at Highland Park Elementary will begin in March, 2011 for a 10-week residency. We look forward to seeing the accomplishments of these ladies and gentlemen at their showcase event.

Special thanks to King Five’s Lori Matsukawa for her coverage of this event.

Watch: West Seattle fifth graders learning ballroom dance

Laura Drake’s impressions of the first class

Pierre Dulaine came to Highland Park Elementary School to demonstrate his ballroom dancing technique to about 30 fifth grade students. I had not prepped the students about what they would be doing. Pierre met with the kids casually in a classroom first. The students' reactions were embarrassment, negativity, or silence. Pierre joked and spoke frankly with the kids and their interest started to spark.

When Pierre started working with the students on their feet in the lunchroom he began to captivate them with his humor, his interest in who they were, and his quick no-nonsense approach to ballroom dancing. He demonstrated with students, with other adults and by himself. By working directly with the students, they began to let their guard down. Within forty minutes, girls and boys who were groaning at the prospect of touching one another, had learned to do the meringue and were proudly promenading arm-in-arm around the cafeteria!

The methods Pierre and his teachers use are direct, respectful, and have a high level of expectation. These methods and the warmth and humor of the teaching won the kids over in a very short time. And this was a tough crowd!

Laura Drake
Multi-arts specialist
Highland Park Elementary

Community Involvement

Thank you for our latest in-kind donations of a multi-function printer and a copy of Microsoft Access.

Get Involved

In addition to growing our volunteer pool and Gala committee, we are looking for the following specific volunteer positions:

• A passionate and enthusiastic PR and Marketing volunteer for either a mentorship or internship position.

• We need technical support with our Joomla/Social CMS website
• We need the assistance of a creative person with talents for video editing and/or media management

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to join our team.

We’re Growing!

A big welcome to Mary Lamery, our newest member of Carpe Dance Board of Directors, serving as our Fundraising Chair. We are honored to have her wealth of expertise and enthusiastic support of our mission and goals.

Special thanks to Penny Laine of pennylainedesign.com for our fun logo design.

Thank you to Katie Lake for her help in getting Carpe Dance established and we wish her great success in her future endeavors.

We are also excited to have the assistance of Kim Koczarski as chair of our Gala Fundraising Committee and database developer.

A big thank you to Joy Shumaker for organizing a successful fundraiser and for continuing to volunteer her time on our Gala Fundraising Committee.

Next Quarter Goals

December Teacher Training

We would like to send Vanessa Villalobos, a former New York City Dancing Classrooms Teaching Artist with 8 years experience, to update her certification during the December training session. This will allow her to act as a Senior Teaching Artist and provide crucial guidance with schools and developing our Teaching Artist Staff. We also hope to send our first male instructor to be trained during this time as well. We recognize the importance of strong male role models in our school residencies. Please see our website for more information about our Instructor Opportunities.

Opportunities for Dancing Classrooms Residencies at 3 to 4 Additional Schools in Winter/Spring 2011

We are looking for an additional 3 to 4 schools to start a residency in the Winter or Spring session. Residencies would start in January to early March, 2011. Please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you know of a school or contact that would be interested in this program!

Save the Date!

Spring Gala – Weekend of May 21^st, 2011

Plans are underway for an elegant afternoon showcasing Dancing Classrooms students, local dancers, and musicians. More details will be forthcoming as they become available.

Please share our exciting news with your friends, family and anyone you know who might be interested.