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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eve Wolf, Executive Director of Dancing Classrooms
5:11:06
ยท
152 sec
Eve Wolf, Executive Director of Dancing Classrooms, testified about the importance of dance education in NYC schools. She highlighted the organization's work in providing culturally responsive dance programs to over 12,000 students across all five boroughs, emphasizing the academic and social-emotional benefits for students.
- Dancing Classrooms has been operating for 30 years, offering programs at no cost to students or families.
- Recent evaluations showed increased student engagement, attendance, and motivation on days when dance programs were offered.
- Wolf urged the city to maintain strong support for arts education through dedicated funding and initiatives.
Eve Wolf
5:11:06
Good afternoon chairperson Joseph, chairperson Rivera, and all the members of the committees.
5:11:11
I'm Eve Wolf, Executive Director of Dancing Classrooms.
5:11:14
Thank you for holding this important hearing.
5:11:17
For thirty years, Dancing Classrooms has cultivated engaged learners, collaborative leaders, and inclusive spaces through the joyful art and practice of social dances.
5:11:26
We are proud to be one of the largest dance education providers to New York City schools.
5:11:31
Each year, our teaching artists bring our culturally responsive programs to more than 12,000 students in over 100 schools and after school sites across all five boroughs at no cost to students or families.
5:11:46
Principals and teachers have seen how our programs foster creative academic and social emotional skills like motivation, perseverance, connection, and listening that help students become engaged learners.
5:11:57
Access to dance education helps kids build active, healthy habits and equips young people against mental health challenges like isolation and low self esteem.
5:12:07
In a recent evaluation of our early elementary program in community school district six, teachers showed clear gains in student engagement and attendance on Days Dancing Classrooms programs were offered.
5:12:19
As one teacher put it, after the students had dance class, they returned to the classroom in good spirits and energized.
5:12:27
It definitely motivated them, especially students who struggle in the classroom.
5:12:32
Additional research showed that after experiencing our ten week program for fourth through eighth graders, ninety five percent of students, that is nearly all of them, showed increased engagement and motivation.
5:12:44
Eighty nine percent saw an increase in self discipline and focus, and ninety three percent strengthened their collaborative and team building skills.
5:12:51
The benefits of arts education should be available to all students, not just some.
5:12:57
To that end, I joined my colleagues in the It Starts With The Arts coalition in urging our city to maintain its strong support for high quality arts education through the restoration and enhancement of dedicated funding and initiatives.
5:13:13
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
5:13:15
The council's support on arts education has been and remains critical to enabling every student, regardless of background or ability, to reap the academic and developmental benefits of the arts.
5:13:27
We are proud to partner with New York City to deliver the world class education that we know will empower our children to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives.
5:13:37
Thank you.