Friday, July 08, 2005

Before or after 'health' class?

Right on the heels of the finale of "Dancing with the Stars" where clothing was nearly optional and some of these moves could have resulted in much more than first prize comes this press release from Metro Nashville Public Schools.


Ballroom Dancing Among Physical Education Choices
In Some Metro Nashville Public Schools



NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 8, 2005) – Students in five Metro Nashville public high schools can foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha, and tango their way through physical education classes this upcoming school year thanks to a partnership with The American Dance League of Tennessee, Inc. (ADLT).


The Dance League’s professional instructors will start providing free ballroom dance lessons this fall, teaching classes during regular school hours. These will be integrated into the physical education curriculum as an option to other athletic courses. The program will also extend to after-hour instruction for students interested in advanced and competitive ballroom dance classes.


“We are always looking for ways to make physical education more interesting for students,” said Scott Brunette, MNPS athletic director and PE coordinator. “We want to instill the importance of a healthy lifestyle -- and ballroom dancing will definitely assist with that effort.”


ADLT focuses on grades 6-12, but will work specifically with high school students in Nashville. The program will be piloted at Maplewood High in August and extend to McGavock High, Nashville School of the Arts, Pearl-Cohn Magnet High and Whites Creek High by the end of the 2005-06 school year.
(snip)

I'm all for encouraging lifelong physical activity but somehow I think the teens will be anticipating more Kelly & Alec than Fred & Ginger.

1 comment:

Kay Brooks said...

Here’s the original press release. Check with Woody.

PRESS RELEASE


Contact: Woody McMillin
Public Information Officer
615-259-8404 (office)
615-566-5369 (cell)


Ballroom Dancing Among Physical Education Choices
In Some Metro Nashville Public Schools

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 8, 2005) – Students in five Metro Nashville public high schools can foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha, and tango their way through physical education classes this upcoming school year thanks to a partnership with The American Dance League of Tennessee, Inc. (ADLT).
The Dance League’s professional instructors will start providing free ballroom dance lessons this fall, teaching classes during regular school hours. These will be integrated into the physical education curriculum as an option to other athletic courses. The program will also extend to after-hour instruction for students interested in advanced and competitive ballroom dance classes.
“We are always looking for ways to make physical education more interesting for students,” said Scott Brunette, MNPS athletic director and PE coordinator. “We want to instill the importance of a healthy lifestyle -- and ballroom dancing will definitely assist with that effort.”
ADLT focuses on grades 6-12, but will work specifically with high school students in Nashville. The program will be piloted at Maplewood High in August and extend to McGavock High, Nashville School of the Arts, Pearl-Cohn Magnet High and Whites Creek High by the end of the 2005-06 school year.
The ADLT was established in March 2005 and is a not-for-profit corporation created to introduce ballroom dance as a sport and art form to public school youth.
Metro Nashville Public Schools provide a range of educational opportunities to nearly 72,000 students in Nashville and Davidson County. The governing body for MNPS is the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Board of Public Education, a nine-member group elected by residents of Metropolitan Nashville. For more information, please visit www.mnps.org.

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