Dancing Classrooms VI put on yet another stellar performance of students' dancing skills at its 5th Annual Colors of the Rainbow Team Match extravaganza held May 14 at the Reichhold Center for the Arts. Students from eight schools in the St. Thomas-St. John District, with participation from both public and private schools, showchased their impressive and graceful moves in various ballroom dances, including Merengue, Foxtrot, Rumba, Tango and Swing.
Each school was assigned a specific color and groups of students performed each of the ballroom dances. Students learned the movements within a six-week period from Teaching Artists embedded at their schools. A highlight of the afternoon came when students were asked to escort a parent or teacher to the dance floor for a special dance. A brief practice session was held, then students and adults glided across the floor--hand-in-hand, spinning and twirling. Smiles and laughter could be seen and heard across the Reichhold Center.
But, Dancing Classrooms isn't only about teaching students how to dance; it more importantly teaches them how to relate to each other. The fifth and eighth graders are taught virtues of respect, kindness and thoughtfulness as they learn the ballroom dances.
Dancing Classroom VI is headed by Katie Zaytoun, executive director. For more information and to learn how you could support this program, visit www.dancingclassroomsvi.org.
Go here to watch Dancing Classrooms featured on Hall Pass!
RED TEAM – ANTILLES SCHOOL
Teaching Artist: Mary Capellas
Head of School Dr. Michael Hughes, Lower School Head: Mrs. Jean Barrows
5th Grade Teachers: Mrs. Heather Newton-Blum and Ms. Jamie Truax
Merengue Team: D'asia Peters & Jackson Stiles
Foxtrot Team: Katherine Majette & Christian Rosenberg
Rumba Team: Zaina Yusuf & Cle'jae Hodge
Tango Team: Angelique Laplace & Sylas Mills
Swing Team: Andrea Espinoza & Tristan Ferrersen
Team Captains: Winborne Majette & Ritesh Alwani
ORANGE TEAM – BOWSKY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal: Ms. Laura Chesterfield, Assistant Principal, Ms. Sandra Reed
5th Grade Teachers: Ms. Sheila Freeman-Callwood and Ms. Denise Goodings
Merengue Team: Kechelle Albert & Bolivar Oscar Reinoso
Foxtrot Team: N’Kaya Monchery & J’Marion Hanley
Rumba Team: Ashukamaya Phillips & Alex Browne
Tango Team: Elisa D’Auvergne & Lerone Phillip
Swing Team: Ju’Nique Todman and Kahil Henly
Team Captains: Renae Brown and Cecil Hector
YELLOW TEAM – DOBER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teaching Artist: Katie Zaytoun
Principal: Ms. Marion Lynch-Esannason
5th Grade Teachers: Ms. Cassandra Mumin, Ms. Charmaine Washington
& Ms. Fayette Granger
Merengue Team: Eliana Gomez & Jayden Davis
Foxtrot Team: Joyia Ward & Tiquan Caesar
Rumba Team: Aniya Fleming & Isaac Vincente-Gomez
Tango Team: Chantal Garcia De-La Rosa & Joshua Cintron
Swing Team: Lianny Severino & Kayden Proctor
Team Captains: Coralis Serrano & Cristian Hernandez
GREEN TEAM – E. BENJAMIN OLIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
Teaching Artist: Gail De Haas
Principal: Ms. Carolyn Archer,
Assistant Principals: Ms. Phyllis P. Bryan and Ms. Sherryl Tonge-George
5th Grade Teachers: Ms. Germarie Turnbull, Ms. Suzette Gomez-Smith &
Ms. Shanee King
Merengue Team: Myrlandie Saint-vil & Quamid Gumbs
Foxtrot Team: Armani Austin & Tashimo Scattliffe
Rumba Team: J’Naejah Scatliffe & Joaquim Baptiste
Tango Team: K’Neema Barthlet & Nathan Bedminster
Swing Team: Kenasha Brookes & Te’Coy Williams
Team Captains: Shania McQueen & Gerson Eugenio
AQUA TEAM – GIFFT HILL SCHOOL
Teaching Artist: Gina Wellner
Head of School: Dr. Laurie Bottiger, Lower School Principal: Ms. Beth Knight
5th Grade Teachers: Ms. Laura Dunlap, Mr. Sean D’Abbraccio &
P.E. Teacher: Ms. Liz Putnam
Merengue Team: Ciena Clendinen & Eleto Skahill
Foxtrot Team: Nina Gonzalez & Arjuna Morris
Rumba Team: Alex Glabach & Kaden D'Abbraccio
Tango Team: Gabby Glabach & Lionel Liburd
Swing Team: Malena del Olmo & James Walgenwitt
Team Captains: Gabby Glabach & Lincoln Sinclair
BLUE TEAM – GLADYS ABRAHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teaching Artist: Katie Zaytoun
Principal: Ms. Michelle Rogers-Bully
Assistant Principal: Ms. Sharon Richardson
5th Grade Teachers: Ms. Loretta Silcott, Ms. Florence Cintron &
Mr. Randy Esgurerra
Merengue Team: Nashaly Rouse and Felix O’Neal
Foxtrot Team: Nadesha DeJesus Castillo and Joshua Morgan
Rumba Team: Arman Di Brooks and Kirabo Stephens
Tango Team: Ariana Tyson and Avion Samuel-Lambertis
Swing Team: Tyel Gifft and Jamari Jules
Team Captains: Yaritzy Caraballo and Osai Todman
PURPLE TEAM – LOCKHART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Teaching Artist: Aisha Boyd
Principal: Ms. Audrey Bowery
Assistant Principals: Ms. Juelis Christian-Hodge & Dr. Jennifer Norford
5th Grade Teachers: Ms. LaTonya Huggins, Ms. Iona Dawkins, Ms. Angela Barry & Ms. P. Browne-Hodge
P.E. Teachers: Mr. Nate Fowler & Mr. Emelson Dipad
Merengue Team: Zanaye Appleton & Dante Morillon
Foxtrot Team: Iomar Leatham & Timothy Hayes
Rumba Team: R’anna Donastorg & Anthony Legler
Tango Team: Maryam Ali & Jah’Seinhym Henry
Swing Team: Kaleesha Raymond & Shiine George
Team Captains: Kamaria Wilkinson & Naphtali Laronde
PINK TEAM – ULLA F. MULLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal: Dr. SymraDee Brown
Assistant Principal: Ms. Kimbolie Torres
5th Grade Teachers: Ms. Jessica John Baptiste, Ms. Desiree Parson and Ms. Brittany Glasgow and P.E. Teacher: Mr. Duane Thomas
Merengue Team: TaeZha Maduro & Ayinde Barbel
Foxtrot Team: Kyandra Lloyd & Shawn Roebuck
Rumba Team: D’Nayjah Ireland & J’Qwan Inniss
Tango Team: Jacia Crooke & Ahmoi Watkins
Swing Team: Sher’niah Freeman & Micah Henry
Team Captains: Dariah Allen & J’ovanny Jno-Pierre
