New York City’s Largest Dance Social and Competition for Kids
Join us at Peter Norton Symphony Space on SATURDAY JUNE 21st, 4:00 – 6:00 PM! The event is open to the public, and will feature students from 2024-25 Dancing Classrooms’ programs, with opportunities for all to dance!
WHEN
Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
WHERE
2537 Broadway at 95th St, New York, NY 10025
(across the street from the 1, 2, 3 trains)
WHO
Schools that participated in Dancing Classrooms’ Social Ballroom residency in 24-25 can sign up to compete as a team, represented by 12 students (6 pairs) from 4th and/or 5th grade.
There will be prizes for top teams, awarded by Celebrity Judges, plus fun giveaways!
Following the competition, everyone can join in a community Social Dance Party where students, families, and audience members can learn new dances and even get on stage to show off their moves!
This exciting event will feature special performances, celebrity guest judges, and dozens of students from Dancing Classrooms’ programs all across the NYC Metro area competing as school “color teams” to win bronze, silver, or gold in with their dancing!
Participating schools, please see the FAQ below for more information.
WHAT COLOR?
Come cheer on your favorite color and support each school team to see who brings home the trophy!
Want to know more? Email Mary@dancingclassrooms.org and follow us on social media @DancingClassroomsNYC to stay up to date with exciting updates!
What does Colors of the Rainbow look like?
Part 1 – The Showcase: The Showcase (aka the warmup) is open to all students who participated in a Social Ballroom residency this school year. Dancing on the circle as a team with their schoolmates (see more about teams in the next tab), students will get to show off the dances learned as part of DC residencies on a stage in front of an audience. During the Showcase, just like in our residencies, students will switch partners*, giving them opportunities to dance with students from other schools.
It’s important to note that the Showcase will not be judged; this is a great opportunity for students of all abilities and skill levels to dance their hearts out at this grand event!
*Accommodations will be made for students who are unable to rotate partners due to religious or access needs.
Part 2 – The Competition: Dancing Classrooms’ students from all across NYC compete in this two-round ballroom dance competition!
Judged by award-winning social dancers, school teams’ combined scores can win them Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Plus, each participating student will receive a prize!
Round 1 – Chosen Dance
5 student pairs from each school team compete, dancing choreography from 1st Year Social Ballroom residencies. Each pair of students pre-selects their chosen dance form, so each pair dances once in merengue, foxtrot, rumba, tango, or swing.
Round 2 – Dance By Chance
The same 5 student pairs each dance one more dance – this time the dance form is chosen by chance, out of a hat!
Round 3 – Judges Choice – The Team Captains
The final, 6th pair of students from each school team, the Team Captains, take the stage to dance a special Judges Choice dance (usually merengue or swing). This round may also serve as a tie-breaker if needed.
Part 3 – The Dance Party: Students, teachers, families, and the general public will be invited to dance, a la Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing. The Social Dance Party is a chance for any students from competing schools, as well as family members, to dance.
With interactive instruction led by DC Teaching Artists, Colors of the Rainbow participants and audience members will have a chance to dance their favorite dances from residencies along with new ones learned together.
As in past years, all Dancing Classrooms partner schools will have an opportunity to send a team of up to 12 (six partner pairs or “righties” and “lefties”) students in grades 4 or 5 to participate in the Colors of the Rainbow Team Match competition.
- Schools are responsible for choosing students for their team, with recommendations from their Teaching Artists, if desired.
- Students must have participated in a 1st Year Social Ballroom (Core) residency in the 2024-2025 school year.
- Students do not have to have been in the same class or even the same grade to be on the team or be partners.
- Students do not have to be of different gender identities or expressions (e.g. male-female) in order to be partners.
- Each pair should be prepared to dance two (2) dance genres in the competition (merengue, rumba, foxtrot, tango, swing).
- One pair will be your Team Captains. Team Captains will step in to dance for any team members who are late or absent at the Competition and will dance a special Team Captain Judges Choice round, which may serve as a tie-breaker if needed.
Awards and prizes will be given in the following manner:
- All participating students will receive a medal or ribbon.
- Student pairs will receive a score in each round. Each pair’s score from a school team will be added together for one final team score. The top school teams will be awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze prizes.
- Bronze, Silver, and Gold- level teams will receive trophies. One Gold-level team will receive the Sheila Hoerle Challenge Trophy.
- All participating schools/sites will be entered into a raffle to win additional prizes!
Guest judges familiar with Dancing Classrooms and partner dancing will be judging the Competition Round live.
There are four main criteria that are scored, listed in order of importance:
- STEPS (as they were taught by the Dancing Classrooms Teaching Artist)
- Is the pair displaying proper sequences and the footwork of steps?
- Is the pair moving in the direction of the steps?
- RHYTHM
- Are the partners on beat with the music?
- Are they doing the correct rhythm for the style
- FRAME
- Are the dancers confident in implementing a “crispy wings” dance frame with elbows together, lifted and away from the body?
- Is the posture of the dancers in line with the dance being danced?
- STYLE
- Is the pair “moving their pockets” demonstrating Latin motion for merengue, and rumba; and, using heel lead walking for foxtrot & tango?
- Does the pair display elegance in their dancing?
- Is the pair confident in their movements and engaged in their performance?
By its nature, judging is subjective and happens in the moment with each judge doing their best to score each team in each round. While many dancers perform at a high level, only a certain number of teams can be awarded prizes. It is important that all members of the school community celebrate the accomplishments of their dancers and model the elegance and respect that is the foundation of a Dancing Classrooms residency – whether the team wins best dance, or any other prize.
We DO NOT share final scores of team competitions with Schools, Teaching Artists, or even the Judges.
FAQs
Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm.
2537 Broadway at 95th St, New York, NY 10025
The Showcase and Competition will be open to school teams who have participated in their first 4th or 5th grade DC Social Ballroom (in-school) residency during the 24-25 school year.
NOTE: 2nd Year/Semester residency students are not eligible to compete, but are encouraged to come and cheer their favorite color team.
Registration opens December 1st, all schools participating in a residency will receive a digital registration form and can also register by clicking the form below. Registration inquiries can be directed to mary@dancingclassrooms.org
Only 1 team of 12 students can compete per school.
Yes! We would love for all students and staff to come show their school spirit and cheer on their team.
No, at this time, all 24-25 DC partners from Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters are invited to participate in our June event. HOWEVER, may decide to hold 2 semi-final rounds on the morning of June 21st before the Grand Final Event at 4 pm, should we have more teams than the stage can accommodate.
Teams are encouraged to dress funky and fabulous! Some teams chose to highlight their assigned team color. To make the experience extra special, DC will provide all teams participating in the competition with costume accessories and embellishments.
DC will provide all teams with special practice videos from our staff, students can use these videos.
Teams are judged on their presentation of Dancing Classrooms Social Ballroom (Year 1) choreography. This includes the style, precision, and teamwork, as well as the steps themselves. Participants will receive a detailed information packet that includes judging criteria in spring 2025.
The dance party is a chance for all students from your school, as well as family members, to show off their moves! DC Teaching Artists will lead everyone in the Stomp and other line dances, with chances to join students in dancing some of our favorite social dances like merengue, swing, and salsa.