News

December 1, 2008

THEY CAME, THEY DANCED, THEY CONQUERED! - Click here to view images from the event

Without exception, the close to 100 competitors who danced their way into every heart of the capacity filled Palais Royale Ballroom demonstrated the determination, focus and teamwork that made them the Champions of the Dance as they proudly represented their eight schools at the Dancing Classrooms first quarter finals for this Academic Year.

The culminating Colours of the Rainbow Team Match of Toronto’s Dancing Classrooms this fall term proved to be one of the very best yet for Join the Dance (JTD) and our schools. The dancers resplendent in their colours drew round after round of enthusiastic applause from their grand entry to the triumphant strains of the Pas Doble to the much anticipated announcement of the placements. 

The event kicked off with wonderful words of praise and commitment by Chef Stefan of the Palais Royale who presented Ilsa Abraham, the Executive Director for Join the Dance with a cheque for $3,000 raised from a Wednesday Benefit Luncheon held throughout October and November to support Ontario farmers and the Dancing Classrooms in Toronto. Chef and the partners of the Palais chose the GROW ONTARIO theme as a reflection of their solid commitment to community, and to our children. In the New Year, they plan to continue the benefit luncheons to help JTD insure that Dancing Classrooms is maintained and expanded to the benefit of many more thousands of children and youth in Toronto.

Our dancers and their schools were thrilled to have special greetings from Director Gerry Connelly and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) delivered by Christine Jackson their Coordinator for the Arts, as well as wonderful words of commendation and encouragement from Trustee John Hastings, and Superintendent Verna Lister.  Also in attendance and enthusiastically celebrating with our dancers was Vicky Branco, the Coordinating Principal for the TDSB Model School Inner City Schools.  The program will expand to include the Firgrove, George Webster, Bala, Kingsview and Forest Manor clusters commencing in January 2009. Last but certainly not least, there was wonderful media presence that lent to the star quality to the afternoon for our enchanted little showoffs who were bubbling to the brim with the thrill of it all!

The following were the awarded Colours of the Rainbow Ribbons:

GOLD CHAMPIONS
Emlea Jr. P.S.
Holy Child
Pope Paul VI

SILVER CHAMPIONS
Willow Park Jr. P.S.
Seneca Hill Jr. P.S.
Westmount Jr. P.S.

BRONZE CHAMPIONS
St. Edmund Campion
Queen Victoria

Our Gold Champions will compete in the Grand Trophy finals in June, 2009 along with the qualifying finalists from the Winter and Spring term of Academic Year 2008/09.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE OVER 1,000 DANCING CLASSROOMS PARTICIPANTS THIS TERM ON THEIR COURAGE, THEIR TENACITY, ENDURANCE, COOPERATION AND TEAMWORK THAT MAKE EACH ONE OF THEM A TRUE CHAMPION WAY BEYOND THE STEPS!