Oglesby Elementary Brings New Ballroom Dancing Class To Students

Every afternoon for ten weeks, fourth, and fifth-grade students at Oglesby Elementary School in Auburn Gresham get the opportunity to put the pen and paper aside and dive into the world of dance.

Not hip-hop or jazz or tap, but ballroom dancing. A mixture of music ranging from classical to contemporary R&B echo throughout the auditorium as students learn a core program consisting of merengue, tango, swing, salsa, and the waltz.

At the end of the ten weeks, 10 girls and 10 boys will be selected to compete in a dance competition at the Chicago Cultural Center in May. They will be able to showcase what they’ve learned in class.

For students like fifth-grader Jayden, the idea of learning a universal dance style is the most compelling part.

“It’s exciting that everyone does these dances all around the world,” he said. “You learn different skills when you do ballroom dancing. When I get older and have to do this type of dancing in high school or at prom, I’ll know what to do.”

After receiving Chance the Rapper’s New Chance Fund, which aims to boost arts education, Oglesby’s principal, Kimberly Henderson, says they added ballet classes for kindergarten to third-grade girls and hip-hop classes for sixth through eighth-graders.

The partnership with Dancing with Class, an arts organization that specializes in bringing multi-cultural dance styles to a school setting, was a “necessity” made possible after a gap for fourth and fifth-graders appeared, said Henderson.

“We have been trying to bring more fine arts into our school,” she said. “I was the most excited about the ballroom dancing because there’s a social aspect to it. At that third, fourth, fifth grade mark, the idea of saying, ‘May I have this dance?’ is major. To be able to work with a boy or a girl to put together something beautiful is something they never had before.”

Brandice Manuel, a professional dancer, and instructor for Dancing with Class started dancing at the age of four. After graduating from Howard University and moving back to Chicago, she was introduced to the arts organization.

Watching students at Oglesby become more confident with dance and socialization is what she always hopes for at the end of each lesson, she says.

“Dance…it encompasses so many things at one time,” Manuel said. “The social component where we’re doing partner dances, it really forces students together in a way that they typically wouldn’t have to interact. They get more comfortable with one another. They actually start to bond with their classmates. So, when they dance together, they actually start to have a lot of fun.”

Five days a week she’s with the students helping them prepare for their spring competition.

“The kids [will] get all dressed up and there are lights and cameras, and a big dance floor,” Manuel said. “They get to see other students that have been learning the same curriculum at different schools, and how what they’ve been learning is universal.”

Dantrell, a fourth grader, and Jailyn, a fifth grader, are both hoping to get chosen for the competition.

“It makes me nervous, but I want to do it,” Dantrell said.

“I’m pretty competitive so I want to do it,” Jailyn said. “I hope to show other people the dances that I’ve learned”

Henderson says she has high hopes for the competition, adding that she knows what winning a title in the competition will bring to students —“pride.”

“I’m excited about the chance to bring home an award from a competition that others wouldn’t expect a school from Englewood to be in,” said Henderson. “We are an African-American school in an area that people refer to as impoverished. For them to have the opportunity to get all dressed up and show what they learned. I’m so excited.”

Along with growing more confident in themselves, Henderson says introducing the ballroom class to students has helped with behavioral issues.

“Some of the boys who I’ve had problems with in the past, I’ve been amazed to see them take charge and not be afraid to ask a girl to dance,” she said. “It shows leadership skills on their part. It’s just amazing to see them all working together and not being afraid to dance with one another.”

Watch below as the students learn the waltz and merengue!

Bonus: ABC7 Chicago featured our 8th graders showing their dance moves at graduation! Check out their smooth moves.