Kids Excel’s Outreach programs will serve over 1900 children in twenty-three schools in 2009-2010 with our fast-paced weekly dance classes. In each participating school, KEEP classes are mandatory for the entire 4th grade. Classroom teacher participation and support are required, and our more energetic teachers even get up and dance with their students! Children have one weekly dance class during the school day, putting the arts on equal footing with their academic learning. All classes are taught by highly trained teaching artists—Dance Instructor, Assistant, and Musician—and in KEEP-style, are fun, energetic, inclusive, success-oriented, and physically and mentally demanding.

In response to requests by our participating teachers, KEEP’s 2009-2010 curriculum will focus on Language Arts, incorporating 4th grade objectives, reading strategies, grammar, and vocabulary into the dance class.

School-wide, interactive assemblies are held in December at each school. Assemblies highlight the award-winning NDI teaching techniques and give dancers the chance to show what they have learned and gain positive reinforcement from peers, teachers, families, and community members.

Programs culminate in lively, theme-based performances held in May at each school. Performances feature an opening dance for 60-120 dancers, individual class dances and a grand finale. End-of-year performances also include props, simple costumes, sets, and music by the Kids Excel Band. This year’s end-of-the-year performance will be “Reading Rascals” and will feature reading concepts explored throughout the year.

The classes, assemblies, and performances are powerful approaches to learning determination, discipline, excellence and teamwork through dance.