Sally Wiggin of WTAE-TV interviews Pittsburgh Lincoln fifth grader Keyshawn Jordan about Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh

Tonight, Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh will be featured on the 5 p.m. broadcast of Channel 4 Action News on WTAE-TV Pittsburgh. Earlier today, Sally Wiggin, news anchor, visited Pittsburgh Lincoln K-8 to watch students dance under the direction of teaching artist Gena Melago.

[Edit: watch news story here]

To learn more about the program’s impact on students, Ms. Wiggin talked with Principal Deonne Arrington, Dr. Barbara Rudiak, assistant superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools, Mark Rogalsky, Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh program director, and Ms. Melago.

Fifth graders were eager to share their thoughts about Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh.

The young ladies and gentlemen are rehearsing for their school’s culminating event on December 6. On that day, they’ll show fellow students, teachers, and parents how they’ve learned to Merengue, Foxtrot, Tango, Swing, and Rumba. They’ll also learn which 12 students will represent Pittsburgh Lincoln in the Colors of the Rainbow semifinals on December 15.

Dancing Classrooms is held in both Pittsburgh Public Schools and in schools that are part of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Since Mercy Behavioral Health brought the program to Pittsburgh in 2009, more than 2,000 fifth graders have participated.