CHAD's Ballroom Dance Team
Donation protected
My name is Mr. Nik Pavlov. I teach English at a school in Philadelphia. Not too long ago I was a Professional Ballroom dancer and teacher, and I want to bring the benefits and joys of that activity to my high school.
I have several (5 - 8) students interested in Ballroom, and we will begin practicing next school year, if not this summer. What they do not have, though, are appropriate dance shoes. Ballroom Dance shoes are not inexpensive, as it is somewhat a luxury sport. And while I would love to be able to use the stipend the school gives us, it would unfortunately only cover about half the students.
This money would be used to procure quality dance shoes so the students can practice and go to competitions in the future. A pair of shoes lasts roughly six months to a year, if worn daily. These won't be, so one decent pair should last much longer.
While there are shoes for $30, those break in a few weeks and are not ideal for long-term use. Not that I want to spoil the kids, but I would like to be able to get them shoes that will last the year (and hopefully beyond), and those are in the $70 - $100 per pair range.
While the plan is to start the club next school year (September), the more we have in place the easier it will be to start and hit the ground running.
I am not asking for me as much as I am asking for my students. Some of them did Ballroom in Middle School but never competitively, never seriously. The kinds of doors this sport opens are unimaginable to those who have never taken part. Dance teacher grace, poise, manners, and respect, both for the self and others. Dance instills patience, humility, perseverance, confidence, and other important life skills. A great deal of the kids that go to my school lack some of these skills, and they need as many avenues as they can get to be able to explore those qualities in themselves.
Not only are the benefits of dance well documented, it also addresses multiple intelligences (essentially all of Gardner's), and builds a strong community and a sense of camaraderie among the practitioners. Traveling to competitions, supporting one another, helping each other learn and grow -- that's what education is all about, not to mention that dance is another avenue to bolster academic achievements as well.
It wold mean the world to have the ability to open these doors to my students, and have them partake in amazing, character building experiences.
#ThankATeacher
I have several (5 - 8) students interested in Ballroom, and we will begin practicing next school year, if not this summer. What they do not have, though, are appropriate dance shoes. Ballroom Dance shoes are not inexpensive, as it is somewhat a luxury sport. And while I would love to be able to use the stipend the school gives us, it would unfortunately only cover about half the students.
This money would be used to procure quality dance shoes so the students can practice and go to competitions in the future. A pair of shoes lasts roughly six months to a year, if worn daily. These won't be, so one decent pair should last much longer.
While there are shoes for $30, those break in a few weeks and are not ideal for long-term use. Not that I want to spoil the kids, but I would like to be able to get them shoes that will last the year (and hopefully beyond), and those are in the $70 - $100 per pair range.
While the plan is to start the club next school year (September), the more we have in place the easier it will be to start and hit the ground running.
I am not asking for me as much as I am asking for my students. Some of them did Ballroom in Middle School but never competitively, never seriously. The kinds of doors this sport opens are unimaginable to those who have never taken part. Dance teacher grace, poise, manners, and respect, both for the self and others. Dance instills patience, humility, perseverance, confidence, and other important life skills. A great deal of the kids that go to my school lack some of these skills, and they need as many avenues as they can get to be able to explore those qualities in themselves.
Not only are the benefits of dance well documented, it also addresses multiple intelligences (essentially all of Gardner's), and builds a strong community and a sense of camaraderie among the practitioners. Traveling to competitions, supporting one another, helping each other learn and grow -- that's what education is all about, not to mention that dance is another avenue to bolster academic achievements as well.
It wold mean the world to have the ability to open these doors to my students, and have them partake in amazing, character building experiences.
#ThankATeacher
Organizer
Nik Pavlov
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
