The Colors Of The Rainbow Celebration Is back!
Dancing Classrooms presents:
? Colors Of The Rainbow Team Match & Dance Party
New York City’s Largest Dance Social and Competition for Kids, and featured partner of NYC KidsFest 2024!
Join us at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park on June 14th, 2024 from 5:00pm to 7:00 pm! The event is open to the public, and will feature students from 2023-24 Dancing Classrooms’ programs, with opportunities for all to dance!
Sponsored by
WHEN
Friday, June 14, 2024 from 5 to 7:00 pm.
WHERE
Richard Rodgers Amphitheater, Marcus Garvey Park, NYC
(Enter at 124th St. & 5th Ave.)
WHO
The TEAM MATCH is back! Schools that participated in Dancing Classrooms’ Social Ballroom residency in 23-24 can sign up to compete as a team, represented by 12 students (6 pairs) from 4th and 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!
All schools are required to provide DC with a team supervisor (school administrator, teacher or parent-coordinator) who’ll be responsible for student registration, participant details and coordinating team attendance.
Schools will be responsible for choosing team participants; your Teaching Artist will be happy to give input and recommendations for your school’s team.
Want to know more? Email fara@dancingclassrooms.org and follow us on social media @DancingClassroomsNYC to stay up to date with exciting updates!
Dancing Classrooms’ annual year-end celebration is the featured partner of NYC KidsFest 2024. Our social dance celebration will cap Day 1 of this 3-day festival for kids and families with joy, connection, and dance!
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 Social Ballroom (Core) residency in the 2023-2024 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.
- Students who are dancing should be prepared to dance on the circle and in a pair of two, one “righty” and one “lefty”.
- 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.
- All participating schools/sites will be entered into a raffle to win additional prizes:
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- 1st prize – Two free residency courses for next school-year
- 2nd prize – One free residency course for next summer
- 3rd prize – Two free family workshops or teacher PDs
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Guest judges familiar with Dancing Classrooms and partner dancing will be judging the Competition Round live. Please note – Teaching Artists who taught competing students will not be judging.
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, & 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
June 14th, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park, at 125th St in Manhattan (easy access from 1,2,3,4,5, A,C, Metro North).
The Showcase and Competition will be open to school teams who have participated in a 4th or 5th grade DC residency during the 23-24 school year.
NOTE: If you had a 2nd Year/Semester residency you can still compete, but students must only dance steps from Year 1.
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 fara@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, all 23-24 DC partners from Fall, Winter and Spring semesters are invited to participate during our June event.
Teams are encouraged to dress funky and fabulous! 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 steps themselves. Participants will receive a detailed information packet that includes judging criteria in spring 2024.
The dance party is a chance for all students from your school, as well as family members to jump on stage and show off their moves! DC Teaching Artists will lead everyone in the Stomp and other line dances, as well as some of our favorite social dances like merengue, swing, and salsa.
Social Media Fundraising Toolkit
YOU make our work possible!
Help us make a difference by sharing about your love of Dancing Classrooms.
HOW TO: CREATE A FACEBOOK FUNDRAISER
- Click on “Fundraisers” located under the “Community Resources” tab in the menu.
- Click on “Select Nonprofit”
- Search for “Dancing Classrooms, INC”
- Edit the details of your fundraiser. Choose a cover photo from our photo selects and add a description that introduces our mission to your friends and followers. (You can grab language from our suggested caption!)
- Set a goal amount and hit “Create!”
HOW TO: RAISE MONEY THROUGH YOUR FACEBOOK STATUS
- Go to your Facebook profile.
- Click on the “What’s On Your Mind” text box.
- Go to “Add to your post” and click on the three dots ( … ) to expand all options.
- Click on “Raise Money”
- Look for and select “Dancing Classrooms, INC”
- Write or use our suggested caption (below) to encourage your friends to donate
HOW TO: CREATE A FUNDRAISER ON YOUR INSTAGRAM POST
- Create a new post on your feed by selecting one of our donation graphics.
- Click “Next” and write a caption that tells your followers why Dancing Classrooms’ mission is important and meaningful to you!
- Tap on “Add fundraiser” or “Raise Money”
- Select either “Create Fundraiser” or “Add Donate Button”
- Search for and select Dancing Classrooms NYC @dancingclassroomsnyc as the non-profit or charity to create a fundraiser for.
- Select a goal amount.
- Click on “done” and share!
SUGGESTED LANGUAGE FOR CAPTION
“Join me in supporting Dancing Classrooms as they cultivate essential life skills in children through the joyful art and practice of social dance to 15,000 kids in approximately 150 school partners each year. [Include how you are connected to DC and our mission and why you are personally moved to donate].
Dancing Classrooms programs are known to have a transformative impact on students’ well-being and engagement in school. We play a critical role in making their work possible, so they can continue to connect and inspire thousands of students, educators, and families each year – supporting the next generation of global changemakers through social dance.
Learn more at DancingClassrooms.Org and click HERE to make a donation!”
#DancingClassrooms #ArtsEducation #DCNYC #SupportDancingClassrooms
SHAREABLE ASSETS AND LINKS
Enrico Mayuga (he/him)
Enrico Mayuga (he/him)
Senior Teaching Artist
Enrico Mayuga, who has been with Dancing Classrooms since 2007, is originally from Washington State. He moved to NYC to pursue a career in higher education after obtaining his degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His career took an unexpected turn when he got the opportunity to help teach “Salsa on 2” classes to children in Kyrgyzstan. It was during this experience that Enrico witnessed firsthand the immediate impact the arts can have on children, despite cultural and language barriers. He vividly remembers the pure joy on the children’s faces and became determined to find a way to teach dance to children upon his return to NYC.
Once Enrico began working with Dancing Classrooms, there was no looking back. He was selected as “Rookie of the Year” and had the opportunity to work as a Buddy Teacher and Weekend Academy Instructor for 1st-4th year students.
The extensive training he received from Pierre and Yvonne went beyond mere steps; he learned about the boundless possibilities that arise when one establishes a connection with a child.
When Enrico is not teaching with DC, he serves as a children’s multi-sport coach and continues to teach ballroom dance to individuals, groups, and wedding couples. Enrico remains dedicated to learning and exploring how he can apply his love for dance, movement, and sports to bring positive change in the lives of his own children, individuals, and communities.
Carmen Mendoza (she/her)
Carmen Mendoza (she/her)
Senior Teaching Artist
Carmen Mendoza became a Teaching Artist with Dancing Classrooms in 2014. Subsequently, she earned the title of “Rookie of the Year” and won the grand championship with her 4th grade students from PS 128 in the Colors of the Rainbow competition. Like her students, she began her dance training at the age of nine as a scholarship recipient and youth company member of the world-renowned Spanish dance company, Ensemble Español, in residence at Northeastern Illinois University. She’s danced on the distinguished stages of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Salvatore Capezio Theater and before the United Nations Assembly. Carmen is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a SAG-AFTRA member. You may have recently seen her on your TV screen in Law & Order: Organized Crime and FBI: MOST WANTED.
Dance With Ms. Carmen!
Joy Grad (she/her)
Joy Grad (she/her)
Senior Teaching Artist
Joy Grad has been teaching for Dancing Classrooms since 2013. She is a lifelong dancer with a BFA in Dance from the University of Michigan. She choreographed her own work for many years before branching out to learn various forms of multicultural folk and social dances. Along with her classical training she has studied Belly dance, Japanese dance, Hip Hop dance, and many social dances. She specializes in two swing genres of social dance; Lindy Hop and Balboa. She also has extensive experience as a Hip Hop dancer through professional classes and and performances.
Highlights of her dance career have been performing with Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane in their work Uncle Tom’s Cabin, performing modern dance at the Merce Cunningham Studio and at DIA in NYC as well as other venues, being a member of Karim Tonsy’s Egyptian Dance Theatre as a modern dance specialist, dancing Lindy Hop at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing in 2017, and performing since 2017 at WNBA games as a member of the Timeless Torches. The Torches are the official over-40 dance team of the WNBA’s New York Liberty basketball team. Highlights of her teaching career include coaching one 4th grade ballroom team to win the Gold at our yearly Grand Finals competition in June, and watching all her students grow their dance and social skills, and their confidence through the joy of dance.
Aviva Bumgardner (she/her)
Aviva Bumgardner (she/her)
Senior Teaching Artist
Aviva Bumgardner is a Brooklyn-born creative who started her first residency with Dancing Classrooms in 2009. She was fortunate enough to be trained in the Dulaine Method by Pierre Dulaine himself and is forever grateful for that opportunity. During her tenure, she has taught residencies all over the five boroughs but is mostly known as the “Queen of Queens”! She was the Program Coordinator for the Dancing Classrooms Weekend Academy from 2010-2020, in which she had the opportunity to see many of her students come and continue their dance journeys. Beyond Dancing Classrooms, Aviva is a trained theater performer with a professional acting degree from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is a recent Summa Cum Laude graduate of Queens College CUNY, where she obtained degrees in both Childhood Education and Theater. She is currently studying at Queens College to obtain her master’s degree in Elementary Education and hopes to be able to bring the joy of the arts into her classroom. Aviva’s focus in her Dancing Classrooms residencies is making sure that her students feel open to creating and enjoying themselves. She hopes that her students leave with a sense of community and love of movement.
Disability Inclusion Workshop + Panel + Social
As we continue to support our work with Students With Disabilities, our guest facilitator and disability advocate (and former Gala honoree!) Marisa Hamamoto moderated a panel discussion for DC’s Teaching Artists with Women On Wheels’ Natalia Mendez and Sabrina Bennett, and disability justice advocate and author of Demystifying Disability, Emily Ladau. Take a look at our favorite moments here!
Ellen Claycomb (she/her)
As the Director of Development at Dancing Classrooms, Ellen Claycomb’s passion for the arts blends with her extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising. She most recently served as the Director of Development at Hot Bread Kitchen and previously held fundraising roles at esteemed organizations such as Second Stage Theater, The New York Foundation for the Arts, the American Red Cross, and True Colors United.
Having embarked on a journey in the world of dance at the age of 3 in her home state of Kentucky, Ellen’s formative years were filled with lots of ballet, tap, and contemporary dance. Through countless hours of dance classes, she developed a profound appreciation for the transformative power of the arts, particularly dance.
As the Director of Development at Dancing Classrooms, Ellen Claycomb’s passion for the arts blends with her extensive experience in nonprofit fundraising. Her two-decade-long career has seen her working diligently to raise funds and support causes that resonate with her values. Ellen most recently served as the Director of Development at Hot Bread Kitchen. She previously held fundraising roles at esteemed organizations such as Second Stage Theater, The New York Foundation for the Arts, the American Red Cross, and True Colors United.
Ellen also has a Master of Public Administration focused on nonprofit management from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor’s in Communication from Arizona State University.
Dancing Classrooms at Lincoln Center's Summer For The City
“Joy & Connection, a Multi-Generational Lindy Hop”
– Photos by Kenichi Kasamatsu (@bykasamatsu)
