The Art of Tango: Students Discovering Grace, Discipline, and Connection

Advertisement

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, September/October 2017 Issue

By Martha Beach

Imagine a gymnasium filled with Grade 7 students. They’re scattered around the room in mixed pairs of girls and boys. They’re holding hands. They’re looking each other in the eye. They’re stepping in unison to classical music, communicating silently, and playing their role in the duo.

This isn’t your typical awkward middle school dance. It’s a ballroom lesson and students are dancing as part of their education. Just a few weeks ago, these same kids were reluctant to learn a dance only their grandparents knew. Some even sat on the sidelines; their initial discomfort, however, soon turned into excitement.

Over the past few years, ballroom dance has garnered attention as an extremely useful yet entertaining educational tool that levels the social playing field and carries extremely important life lessons.

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $15.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .

Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.

Education News

How (and Why) to Make Classrooms More Musical

Music is a language that reaches across age, culture, and ability. And when we learn to use it with care and creativity, it becomes one of the most accessible and powerful tools we have in education.

Reading in America: Five Years Since COVID

While we continue to understand and measure the pandemic's impact on education, more and more evidence is confirming that, even five years later, students are still a long way off from rebounding academically.

GIA GemKit Brings Gem Science to Any Classroom

Young students anywhere in the world can now experience the wonder of gems and minerals with GemKit™ by GemKids ®.

Emirates “Travel Rehearsal” Programs for Children With Autism

As part of Autism Awareness Month, several milestones have been achieved on Emirates’ journey to make travel more accessible for all.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

Martha Beach
Martha Beach
Martha Beach lives and works in Toronto as a freelance fact-checker, editor, and writer for a wide variety of publications. When she’s not working, you’ll find Martha on her yoga mat or hanging out with her daughter and husband.

Advertisement

Read More

How (and Why) to Make Classrooms More Musical

Music is a language that reaches across age, culture, and ability. And when we learn to use it with care and creativity, it becomes one of the most accessible and powerful tools we have in education.

Whose Face Belongs Here? Navigating Race in the World of AI

Teachers need support not only in understanding the tools, but also in managing the ethical, cultural, and emotional complexities that AI brings to the classroom.

Reading in America: Five Years Since COVID

While we continue to understand and measure the pandemic's impact on education, more and more evidence is confirming that, even five years later, students are still a long way off from rebounding academically.

GIA GemKit Brings Gem Science to Any Classroom

Young students anywhere in the world can now experience the wonder of gems and minerals with GemKit™ by GemKids ®.

Learning English Is Tough—Now Imagine Doing It with Dyslexia

How can we create truly inclusive environments that support students with dyslexia in our multilingual classrooms?

Emirates “Travel Rehearsal” Programs for Children With Autism

As part of Autism Awareness Month, several milestones have been achieved on Emirates’ journey to make travel more accessible for all.