The fifth-graders from Whitaker Elementary School were dancing on air Wednesday as they excitedly accepted the gold trophy in ballroom dancing.
The five-school dance-off competition marked the culmination of 10 weeks of dance classes where fifth-graders at each school learned merengue, foxtrot, rumba, tango, waltz, polka and swing dancing.
“When they were announcing third, I thought ‘Wow, maybe we have a chance,’” said Whitaker fifth-grader Marley Mitchell, 11. “It was overwhelming and so exciting.”
The fifth-annual competition, held at Smith Farm Elementary School, pitted couples from each school against each other in each dance type as a panel of judges observed.
Whitaker clinched first place, while Our Lady of Mercy and Union Cross tied for second and Forest Park and Smith Farm shared third.
“At first I was nervous, but then you get into it. It was a lot of practice and memorization,” said William Martin, 11, who danced the rumba and tango with Marley. “My favorite part is learning the dancing for when I’m older and go to dances.”
Wednesday’s competition was the finale to the “Dancing Classrooms” program where students learned dance, teamwork and life skills throughout 20 sessions.
The purpose of the program is to immerse the students in dance while also teaching them social skills, respect, self-confidence and teamwork, said Wednesday’s competition emcee Ann Guill.
“We’ve seen test scores for schools with the program go up. It helps with absenteeism, it helps with behavior problems,” said Guill, the director of Take the Lead North Carolina, the nonprofit that offers the Dancing Classrooms program.
“We have some data to back up the program’s success, but mostly it’s what you can see: just the respect, teamwork and positive interaction.”
In the first round of Wednesday’s competition, couples from each school performed each of the dance styles, wowing the gym full or parents with their swing and rumba prowess.
But in the second round, the couples — who wore colorful sashes to denote their school — had to pick a random dance from a hat to perform.
Dancing Classrooms instructor David Hawk said the students become well-versed in all the dance types throughout the program.
“When they first start, they don’t want to dance or even touch each other,” said Hawk, who taught the program to students at Smith Farm Elementary. “But it’s baby steps, and then suddenly they’re dancing.”
Dancing Classrooms began in New York City schools in 1994, founded by retired championship ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine.
The program has taken root in Forsyth County’s elementary schools throughout the past 10 years, Guill said, with about 7,500 students in 30 different area schools having participated.
All of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school district’s elementary schools have the opportunity to participate in the program and opt into the annual competition.
“It’s so much beyond dancing. The bonding and interaction is my favorite part,” said Whitaker Principal Sharon Creasy, whose school has participated in the program for four years. “Yes, they’ll dance well at their weddings one day, but they’re also learning valuable life lessons.”
As the judges tallied their scores, the students took a detour from the traditional dancing with Hawk leading Smith Farm Elementary students in the viral “Baby Shark” dance, eliciting excited cheers from their peers.
The spirit boosters — a cheering section from each school — also got their shot to dance a line dance and the cha-cha slide.
“I like all of the dancing,” said Caleb Drape, 11, who competed in swing for Union Cross with partner Alona Dweh. “It’s kind of scary but also fun.”
Smith Farm Elementary School team captains Amil Richmond and Graham Hosch dance with all of the competitors in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition after awards were presented, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Forest Park Elementary School fifth graders Chelsea Toledo and Jarod Simmons dance the rumba as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School team captains Dimitri Heitschmidt and Sanaa Puryear hold their first place trophy in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Liam Forest and Morgan Aho dance the tango as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Competitors dance the polka in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School fifth grader Chloe Lynch high fives a teammate after their routine in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Our Lady of Mercy school spirit boosters dance a line dance with other schools after the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School Marley Mitchell shows her excitement as Whitaker is announced as the winner of the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School fifth grader Maria Nikolaidis has her photo taken with the first place trophy in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Union Cross Elementary School's Cassidy Lewis is all smiles after she and Joe Fogleman finish their routine in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School fifth graders Chloe Lynch and Carson Barnes smile after completing their dance in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Professional dancer and educator Julianne Harper leads school spirit boosters in a line dance after the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth grader Abrienne Duhig cheers on her teammates during the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School's Maddox Butler and Londyn Imes show their excitement as Whitaker is announced as the winner of the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School team captains Dimitri Heitschmidt and Sanaa Puryear dance the waltz in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Alex Bowman and Sofia Fohn dance the waltz in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Our Lady of Mercy School spirit boosters cheer on their teammates during the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Union Cross Elementary School Alejandra Toledo-Rodriguez tries not to smile as she dances the tango with partner Gael Salazar-Mata in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Union Cross Elementary School Alejandra Toledo-Rodriguez spirit booster cheer on their teammates in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
All of the competitors in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition take the dance floor after the awards presentation, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Liam Forest and Morgan Aho dance the tango as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Forest Park Elementary School fifth graders Rosa Robinson and Jarod Simmons dance the waltz as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Professional dancer and teacher David Hawk leads Smith Farm Elementary fifth graders in an exhibition while judges tally scores in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Whitaker Elementary School parents Eileen Lynch and Heather Hosey take photos of the school's dancers as they receive the championship trophy of the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Union Cross Elementary School teacher Michelle Treadway congratulates Cassidy Lewis after she finishes her routine in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Ashlyn Seivers and Nicholas Fleming smile after completing their dance in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
School spirit boosters join the competition teams for Cha Cha Slide to wrap up the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Forest Park Elementary School's Jariel Torres laughs with teacher, Julie Hunter, after he and partner Yareni Torres receive their team bronze medals in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Forest Park Elementary School fifth graders Alexander Carranza and Alicia Burke compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Photos: Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow competition
Smith Farm Elementary School team captains Amil Richmond and Graham Hosch dance with all of the competitors in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition after awards were presented, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Forest Park Elementary School fifth graders Chelsea Toledo and Jarod Simmons dance the rumba as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School team captains Dimitri Heitschmidt and Sanaa Puryear hold their first place trophy in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Liam Forest and Morgan Aho dance the tango as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Competitors dance the polka in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School fifth grader Chloe Lynch high fives a teammate after their routine in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Our Lady of Mercy school spirit boosters dance a line dance with other schools after the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School Marley Mitchell shows her excitement as Whitaker is announced as the winner of the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School fifth grader Maria Nikolaidis has her photo taken with the first place trophy in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Union Cross Elementary School's Cassidy Lewis is all smiles after she and Joe Fogleman finish their routine in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School fifth graders Chloe Lynch and Carson Barnes smile after completing their dance in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Professional dancer and educator Julianne Harper leads school spirit boosters in a line dance after the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth grader Abrienne Duhig cheers on her teammates during the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School's Maddox Butler and Londyn Imes show their excitement as Whitaker is announced as the winner of the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School team captains Dimitri Heitschmidt and Sanaa Puryear dance the waltz in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Alex Bowman and Sofia Fohn dance the waltz in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Our Lady of Mercy School spirit boosters cheer on their teammates during the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Union Cross Elementary School Alejandra Toledo-Rodriguez tries not to smile as she dances the tango with partner Gael Salazar-Mata in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Union Cross Elementary School Alejandra Toledo-Rodriguez spirit booster cheer on their teammates in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
All of the competitors in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition take the dance floor after the awards presentation, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Liam Forest and Morgan Aho dance the tango as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Forest Park Elementary School fifth graders Rosa Robinson and Jarod Simmons dance the waltz as they compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Professional dancer and teacher David Hawk leads Smith Farm Elementary fifth graders in an exhibition while judges tally scores in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Whitaker Elementary School parents Eileen Lynch and Heather Hosey take photos of the school's dancers as they receive the championship trophy of the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Union Cross Elementary School teacher Michelle Treadway congratulates Cassidy Lewis after she finishes her routine in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Our Lady of Mercy School fifth graders Ashlyn Seivers and Nicholas Fleming smile after completing their dance in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
School spirit boosters join the competition teams for Cha Cha Slide to wrap up the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Forest Park Elementary School's Jariel Torres laughs with teacher, Julie Hunter, after he and partner Yareni Torres receive their team bronze medals in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Walt Unks/Journal
Forest Park Elementary School fifth graders Alexander Carranza and Alicia Burke compete in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition, Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at Smith Farm Elementary School.
Smith Farm Elementary School team captains Amil Richmond and Graham Hosch dance with all of the competitors in the Dancing Classrooms Colors of the Rainbow Team Match Competition after awards were presented.