Twin Cities fifth-graders ask: Shall we dance?

The heart of dance
Fifth-grade students participated in a dance lesson Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, at Benjamin Mays IB World School in St. Paul. The offering is part of Dancing Classrooms, sponsored by the Twin Cities nonprofit, Heart of Dance.
Cathy Wurzer | MPR News

Touching someone of the opposite sex is typically a squeamish affair for 10-year-olds, but not for a group of Twin Cities fifth-graders who've learned ballroom dancing. This weekend, they'll dance in a first-ever competition.

Ballroom dancing lessons
Fifth-grade students participated in a dance lesson Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, at Benjamin Mays IB World School in St. Paul. The offering is part of Dancing Classrooms, sponsored by the Twin Cities nonprofit, Heart of Dance.
Cathy Wurzer | MPR News

The kids have taken on the tango, rumba, swing and waltz the past 10 weeks as part of Dancing Classrooms, sponsored by the Twin Cities nonprofit, Heart of Dance. Visitors got a look at their steps during a recent showcase at St. Paul's Benjamin Mays IB World School.

The work is not just about dance. Supporters say ballroom builds confidence in kids and helps them grow physically and emotionally.

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