TBCS-Steve-Dancing-Devotions-4-Learning -Focused Cultured-Devotions

• Providing opportunities for ākonga engagement in co-operative learning, and reciprocal teaching. 

• Monitoring ākonga closely to ensure they are treated respectfully and are included in all aspects of school life.

• Promotion of positive and appropriate relationships with and between ākonga.
• Monitoring of all ākonga closely to ensure they are being included and treated respectfully by their peers.

Paul Mullany Dance lessons teach children respect and discipline. It helps to build social awareness in children, so they not only learn how to dance; they also learn how to respect one another. The maturity necessary to dance together fosters respect, civility, teamwork, cooperation, confidence and a sense of joy, accomplishment and achievement. Through experiential learning, they learn valuable life skills and lessons of self-discovery, self-expression, and self-confidence. Their posture and confidence improves and awkwardness is replaced with physical grace & poise.

The Many Positive Benefits of Children's Ballroom Dancing:
- Strong Discipline & Teamwork
- Builds Self-Esteem & Confidence
- Better Social Skills
- Teaches Proper Etiquette
- Respect for Themselves and Others
- Improves Coordination and Balance
- Encourages Creativity and Self-Expression
- Exercises the Mind & Body- Most of all, it's Fun & Exciting

I organised for a dance instructor to come and give four one hour lessons to the class on the Waltz, The Fox Trot and the Cha-Cha. This tied onto our Devotions topic of co-operation.
The students were paired as per my choosing. This was the start of co-operation.

Outcome: all students learnt to dance, some will even put on a demonstration at our Celebration Night where parents are invited to share in the students achievements and improvements. For the first lesson many students were reluctant to 'hold' their partner. By the end of the lesson only two students were having difficulty. One due to "I don't want to dance' attitude (not an uncommon statement). The other is closer than I thought he would get. By lesson three the gaps had closed, the steps shorter to match their dance partner, eyes had come up from the floor and we were dancing.

Even before the last lesson I believe we have changed our culture towards boys and girls to partners. They are reliant on each other to enable the dance to work.

Next Step: definitely do this again. The way it supported our Devotions topic was superb.