Arts In Schools Collaborative

THE MISSION OF THE PROGRAM IS TO FOSTER SELF-ESTEEM, SOCIAL AWARENESS, MUTUAL RESPECT, TEAMWORK, AND JOY IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOCIAL DANCE EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE.

IN THE 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR, DCP SERVED OVER 4,500 STUDENTS IN 67 SCHOOLS. DCP FOLLOWS THE STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM OF THE DANCING CLASSROOMS GLOBAL PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN 1994 IN NEW YORK CITY BY FOUR-TIME SHOW DANCE WORLD CHAMPION PIERRE DULAINE AND THE AMERICAN BALLROOM THEATER COMPANY,AS SEEN IN THE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY MAD HOT BALLROOM. THE PRIMARY DCP INITIATIVE IS IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS WHO TEACH BALLROOM DANCES (RUMBA, SWING, TANGO, WALTZ, AND MERENGUE), AND NON-COMPETITIVE DANCES (HEEL-TOE POLKA, THE STOMP, FOXTROT, SALSA, AND THE ELECTRIC SLIDE). LESSONS TAKE PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY IN 45-MINUTE SESSIONS TWICE WEEKLY FOR TEN WEEKS. AN ENTIRE FIFTH OR EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT BODY, AND THEIR CLASSROOM TEACHERS, PARTICIPATE. CURRICULUM ASSIGNMENTS OCCUR THROUGHOUT EACH RESIDENCY, WHICH CONNECT THE BALLROOM DANCE EXPERIENCE TO THE STUDENTS' PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC LIVES. EACH RESIDENCY CONCLUDES IN A CULMINATING PUBLIC EVENT WHERE ALL STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE THE DANCES THEY LEARNED. SELECT STUDENTS GO ON TO SEMIFINAL COMPETITIONS. WINNERS OF THE SEMIFINALS PARTICIPATE IN THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW TEAM MATCH FINAL, WITH TEAMS REPRESENTING SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE PHILADELPHIA REGION. THE DCP ACADEMY OFFERS STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A DANCING CLASSROOMS IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THEIR BALLROOM DANCE TRAINING ON SATURDAY MORNINGS WITH PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS. CLASSES ARE HELD IN FALL AND SPRING SESSIONS AT A LOCATION IN PHILADELPHIA. THE DCP ALLSTARS, AN EXHIBITION DANCE TROUPE CONSISTING OF SOME OF THE MOST PASSIONATE DANCERS FROM THE DCP ACADEMY, PERFORM AT VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.