S: Is for socializing

One of the highest rated shows on television is Dancing with the Stars, so it comes as no surprise that The American Ballroom Theater Company announced its 25th Anniversary. A Gala Dinner Dance took place to benefit Dancing Classrooms, a not-for profit, arts-in-education program set up in 1994 to teach ballroom dancing in inner-city schools. Under the leadership of ABrT’s director, Pierre Dulaine, the program was expanded to 230 New York City Public schools, teaching ballroom dancing to 30,000 students. The program has also been replicated and is being implemented in 12 other national cities. Despite the economic climate and lower levels of participation in schools, due to shortage of education funding, ABrT is pushing forward with its mission. They plan to bring the program to Europe this year, starting in Geneva , Switzerland and Birmingham, England. Pierre Dulaine had an award-winning career as a dancer but wanted more, so he started volunteering to teach 5th Grade children at a school on West 48th Street to dance. He quickly saw how a social development program, utilizing ballroom dancing as a vehicle to break down social barriers, could change the lives of not only the children but also the lives of their teachers and parents. “The maturity necessary to dance together fosters teamwork, confidence and a sense of joy and accomplishment. Ballroom dance is the medium we use to nurture these qualities,” says Dulaine. His work became widely known through the award-winning documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom” and the New Line movie “Take the Lead” in which he was played by Antonio Banderas. The ABrT benefit took place on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 7pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Roosevelt Hotel on Madison Avenue at 45th Street , New York. Dance performances were given by the American Ballroom Theater Youth Dance Company and the World Ballroom Champions, Jonathan Wilkins and Hazel Newberry. Broadway and Cabaret star Karen Akers entertained the 300 guests which included Bebe Neuwirth, Kevin Mackenzie, Barbara Cook, Bill Cunningham and Vanessa Williams, to name a few.

Even in hard times people gather together to give children a sense of accomplishment and that is a F.A.C.T.