Culture through Ballroom Dance

History:
     ”Culture through Ballroom Dance, Ltd.", a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation, was chartered March of 2007 following a ballroom dance pilot project for the Kanas City Missouri School District in the Spring of 2006.  William Jewell College dance instructors, Dr. Will Adams and Paula Marie Daub, began the program by teaching 5th graders to dance in four of the district's public schools .  After only 10 lessons, some 70 student dancers had the rewarding experience of performing on stage before an audience of several hundred people as part of the district’s "All City Music Festival," which also includes choral and instrumental music. 

    The second and third annual ballroom dance festivals featured nearly 200 students each, who also performed for school carnivals, Cinco de Mayo celebration, school assemblies, PTA, and senior citizen centers. 

    Since the addition of ballroom dancing, the district's All City Music Festival has now become the "All City Performing Arts Festival."  The ballroom dance night is now popularly known as the Ballroom Dance Festival.  On May 15th, 2008, 5th through 8th graders performed  Merengue, Swing, Salsa, Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Tango and 3 different line dances in the district's 3rd annual Ballroom Dance Festival.  For video, see our "Pictures and Video" page.

    May 15th, 2009, another outstanding performance was given by the Kansas City Missouri School District Ballroom dancers at the annual Performing Arts Festival at the Scottish Rite Temple.  A "Musical Merengue" dance contest was added this year to the delight of both the audience and the dancers.  Plus the Border Star dancers provided a great finale with their first time performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller Line Dance.  

We're growing

     In 2007 / 2008 & 2009 the program significantly expanded the number of classes and schools served, and continues to expand to include as many schools as resources will allow.  To date we have provided ballroom dance lessons to 3 public school districts as well as two private high schools.  Our goal is for all students to have the opportunity to experience the benefits that ballroom dance lessons provide.  If you do not have a ballroom dance program at your school, but would like your child to have such an opportunity, talk to your child's teacher or principal and refer them to this website, or call Dr. Adams at 816-781-6514.

Who We Are

Board Members:

Dr. John Bean, Chairman

Dr. Will Adams, President

Jennifer Short, Vice President

Paula Marie Daub, Secretary

Eleaner Adams, Treasurer

Christine Evans, Member at Large

Advisory Board Members:

Sandra Hader - C.P.A.

Mike Strong - Media

Tim Stark - Music Services

Nicole English - survey research

Celeste Matthews - clothes closet

Tom Modrcin - events coordinator

Boyd Taylor - finacial advisor

Primary Dance Instructors and program developers:

Dr Adams and Paula Marie Daub have been the Kansas City Missouri School District's primary ballroom dance instructors since the Winter Semester of 2006.  They have also been teaching ballroom dance for PE credit at William Jewell College for many years.

Dr. Will Adams

     Has been teaching dance since 1974 for area colleges and school districts.  Holds bronze and silver medals and dance certificates from Brigham Young University dance workshops.

Paula Marie Daub

Has been teaching ballroom since 1992 for area colleges, school districts, and other venues.  Received much of her training from Walter's Dance Center in Kansas City Kansas, as well as from other nationally promenient dance instructors.  Holds several dance trophies and awards.