Dancing with the Students
yields broad benefits, BC study finds
was founded by University Trustee Susan Martinell Shea '76
In 2005, an American ballroom dance competition titled “Dancing with the Stars” premiered on ABC-TV, launching a highly successful 20-years-and-counting run for the hit TV series—often referred to as “DWTS”—that features celebrities paired with professional dancers.
In the same year, a community-based non-profit dance education program with the same initials, founded by a Boston College alumna and trustee, kicked off in a Philadelphia school. But the stars of this “DWTS” are students in grades three through 12 seeking fun, confidence, self-esteem—not the TV show’s Mirrorball Trophy.
Now, a Boston College study has found that the 20-year Dancing with the Students program’s benefits go far beyond youth learning to ballroom dance.
This past April, researchers from the Lynch School of Education and Human Development presented their findings from an investigation into DWTS at the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting, the world’s largest gathering of education researchers and a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative studies.
Deoksoon Kim (Caitlin Cunningham)
Titled “Supporting Students’ Holistic Development through Dance Education: The Role of Non-profit Community-based Programs,” the study’s results demonstrated that DWTS effectively supported whole-person learning in both immediate ways and throughout participants’ lives, according to principal investigator Deoksoon Kim, a Lynch School professor in the Teaching, Curriculum, and Society Department.
“Our findings supported prior research that indicates that the arts provide an avenue for self-expression and foster creativity and empathy, while developing respect for others, inner strength and drive, and also assist in identifying personal goals,” said Kim, noting that interviews were conducted with DWTS staff and graduates. “The DWTS program also inspired a sense of purpose among its alumni, with many developing a strong appreciation for giving back to the community.”
Susan Martinelli Shea (Gary Wayne Gilbert)
Dancing with the Students was founded by University Trustee Susan Martinelli Shea ’76, a former special education teacher who earned a master’s degree in communicative disorders from Johns Hopkins University. DWTS now offers ballroom dance lessons to students in more than 30 schools in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Lexington, Ky., without financial support for the arts, touching the lives of more than 7,000 young people across three states.
Students are taught four dance styles—waltz, swing, tango, and merengue—during the first nine weeks. In week 10, the dance couples compete for medals and trophies at the “Grand Finale,” which, according to Shea, has become a treasured tradition for their families and their community. Additionally, some participants continue with the program beyond the 10 weeks in afterschool programs.
In 2015, Philadelphia-area students in the program performed at the Festival of Francis for Pope Francis during his visit to the United States. They’ve also demonstrated their art at Philadelphia 76ers basketball games, Philadelphia Charity Balls, and a sold-out Philadelphia Phillies game.
According to Shea, DWTS is about much more than just learning the steps to the waltz.
“I started this non-profit to bring dance, artistic empowerment, and fun to schools with little funding for the arts,” she said. “Our goal has always been to develop a community that empowers children through traditional ballroom dance as an inspiration for hope, confidence, and fun. To see this program blossom into an opportunity for true formative education has exceeded my wildest dreams.”
Key research questions for program alumni and instructors included the dimensions of whole-person learning targeted through the DWTS program, and how the DWTS program supports whole-person learning.
A DWTS instructor underscored that artistic development and creativity are paramount to the program: “We constantly encourage students to bring their own personal flair to each style of dance.”
One DWTS alum said the program helped him “grow some tough skin,” and defend his beliefs.
“One of my siblings…really didn’t care for the program so he’d make jokes about it,” said Ernie. “So that’s when I started to identify my identity and just be true to who I am and actually stand up for things that I like to do, which [is] dancing.”
Another graduate focused on the program’s intrapersonal development, noting the “confidence that it instills in you, especially as a young Black or Brown person, where there can be a lot of spaces where you don’t feel like you belong.”
Rae told the researchers that the program helped her push herself to her full potential.
“I’m a star!” she declared. “I’m able to do something. I’m just as important as anyone [else].”