Some 115 fifth graders from seven Springfield public schools will dance Saturday at Symphony Hall.
Dance instructors Allyson and George Gouzounis.Can you dance better than a fifth grader?
You’ll have the opportunity to see 115 fifth graders from seven Springfield public schools show just how well they can dance the merengue, cha-cha, waltz, swing and tango on Saturday in the “Over the Top: the Ballroom Dance Project.” The seventh annual citywide ballroom dance competition will take place at Symphony Hall beginning at 4 p.m.
George C. and Allyson M. Gouzounis began the program in 2005, realizing they could put into action the idea they had before seeing the movie “Mad Hot Ballroom.”
Each October the couple gives dance lessons to the fifth graders in the participating schools; after the third lesson, the children can decide if they will continue. In January each school has a dance off to select the finalists who will represent the school at Symphony Hall.
This year the project began with 600 students.
The husband and wife volunteer team has taught ballroom dancing to about 4,000 children since the project began seven years ago.
She teaches second grade part time at Kensington Avenue School; he is a consultant with Wells Fargo Advisors and a former elementary school music teacher.
“Helping children is our passion,” said George Gouzounis, co-director with his wife of Over the Top: the Ballroom Dance Project.
They give countless hours each school year to the project, “for the love of the children,” he said.
“Fifth grade is an awkward age, and this focuses their efforts on something very productive that translates into academic performance,” he said, noting the benefits of ballroom dancing include increased self confidence, self esteem and school morale.
The television dance program “Dancing with the Stars” has had a positive influence especially on boys as sports celebrities show dancing as a “masculine thing to do,” Gouzounis said.
Former Over the Top: the Ballroom Dance Project dancers continue to perform as a group for various functions and at nursing homes.
Tickets for this year’s competition are $10 and will be available at the door.
For more information, call (413) 433-5036.