ABOUT DMSTL
Dance Moves STL (DMSTL), formerly known as St. Louis Dancing Classrooms, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development through the art of social dance. By addressing the social and emotional needs of the whole child, our programming aims to empower young people, foster positive social interactions, and build teamwork in St. Louis area schools.
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Founded in 2008, DMSTL has grown to serve some 30 schools from across St. Louis City and County, spanning 22 zip codes, and reaching approximately 1000 students annually. Centered on providing the internationally recognized Dancing Classrooms program, as featured in the documentary film Mad Hot Ballroom, Dance Moves STL partners with upper elementary classrooms to deliver a proven, arts-integrated residency experience. In twice-weekly sessions, students learn a variety of ballroom and social dances—including the Merengue, Foxtrot, Rumba, Tango, Swing, and Waltz—while also developing key life skills such as cooperation, empathy, respect, and confidence.
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Our Teaching Artists, trained in the Dulaine Method and Dancing Classrooms curriculum, work closely with classroom teachers to integrate dance with academic content and social-emotional learning goals. Through writing assignments and personal reflections, students gain insight into their growth, relationships, and learning experiences—both on and off the dance floor.
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Together with our school partners, DMSTL creates joyful, respectful, and inclusive learning environments—one dance step at a time.
OUR MISSION
AND VISION
Our mission is to cultivate essential life skills in children through the joyful art and practice of social dance.
​Our vision is schools and communities where every child is connected, respected and given an environment in which to thrive.
ABOUT DANCING
CLASSROOMS
Dancing Classrooms was founded in 1994 by internationally acclaimed ballroom dancer, Pierre Dulaine, as an educational initiative of the American Ballroom Theater Company. Pierre’s passion for dance and commitment to youth development led to the creation of the Dancing Classrooms Core Residency curriculum—a dynamic, innovative, and multi-dimensional approach that fosters teamwork, respect, and confidence through the learning and practice of ballroom and social dance.
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Initially a pilot program for students exclusively in New York City, it didn’t take long for the successful impact of the Dancing Classrooms program to generate widespread attention. The 2005 release of the critically acclaimed documentary, Mad Hot Ballroom, followed by the 2006 feature film, Take the Lead, brought the program international recognition. In 2013, Pierre’s journey came full circle in Dancing in Jaffa, a powerful documentary following his return to his hometown, where he used dance to bridge divides between Jewish and Palestinian Israeli children. These three films helped to ignite a movement and the establishment of a global network of affiliate sites offering the Dancing Classrooms program.
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Today, Dancing Classrooms is a world renowned arts-education organization with social dance program offerings for students in grades K-12. Through a national network of affiliates and educators, it reaches over 40,000 students annually.
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”Dancing is about connections… to our friends, to our families, to our neighbors. It is one of the most expressive ways we celebrate and communicate our cultures and communities…” – Pierre Dulaine & Yvonne Marceau
