Francisco Martinez and his wife Stacey, owners of The Dance Family Studio, lead a salsa class at Stewart Park during the 7th annual Jazz on the Lawn on Sunday, Aug 19, 2012.

Odissi Dance Circle 2012 - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Odissi Dance Circle perform during the 36th Annual Festival of Chariots at Venice Beach on Sunday, August 5, 2012.

Tango Master Class - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Oriental Dancer Angela Carroll performs at the Santa Monica Pier on Friday, March 2, 2012.

Ballroom Madness 2012 - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

Sixty talented 5th  grade students from Six teams of ten students each from Edison, Franklin, John Muir, Pt. Dume, Roosevelt, and Webster Elementary Schools compete in the 3^rd annual  Ballroom MADNESS Elementary School Team Match at Santa Monica High School's Barnum Hall on Monday, January 23, 2012. The students competed in the meringue, foxtrot, rumba, tango, swing and waltz.  Roosevelt Elementary school came in first place, Pt. Dume came in second place and Edison came in third place.

The students, who study the geography and cultures of the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Cuba, Eastern Europe and the U.S., write essays about their first impressions and finally, what they learned throughout the program, giving them an appreciation for a much larger world.

 “I know how dance positively enriched my life and I wanted to offer children an opportunity to express their creativity in a setting that fosters respect, teamwork and accomplishment, ‘one step at a time’, said Jane Dorian, the group’s executive director and co-founder.”  I was compelled to create Ballroom MADNESS when I observed a family at lunch—each member was plugged into some electronic device. I thought ‘why don’t they connect to each other?’

Dorian and co-founder Daniel Ponickly, created the arts education program two years ago from their shared passion for dance. Dorian, a founding member of Center Dance Arts at the L.A.’s Music Center, danced in the national company of “Hello Dolly” and numerous films and television shows. Ponickly taught dance in New York’s inner city public schools and was a Senior Teaching Artist with American Ballroom Theater’s “Dancing Classrooms Program,” the group profiled in the documentary, “Mad Hot Ballroom.”

“Our program is great for all students,” said Ponickly, “but it is especially gratifying when we can serve urban kids—teaching them social and partnership skills, while providing them with a positive alternative to gangs and street-life.” 

The duo train a corps of dance teachers who work with the kids in the structure and familiar environment of their regular classroom during their school day. Twice a week in a one-hour session, the kids dance meringue, foxtrot, rumba, tango, swing and waltz. The students, who study the geography and cultures of the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Cuba, Eastern Europe and the U.S., write essays about their first impressions and finally, what they learned throughout the program, giving them an appreciation for a much larger world. 

Ballroom MADNESS  is a nonprofit organization that brings ballroom dance to under-served school children. A truly transformative experience, Ballroom MADNESS fosters respect and teamwork in classmates by teaching  them to work together to build a solid foundation of trust and partnership. The program provides students with a creative and expressive artistic outlet within an environment that is safe and constructive, during school hours. Since its inception in 2007, more than 600 children in 12 Southern California schools have been inspired to be the best at something— they have learned they are important and that their actions matter.



‎‎Santa Monica College students dance during the Global Citizenship Day Festival at SMC on Tuesday, November 15, 2011.

Bhangra - Images by Fabian Lewkowicz

The Sher Foundation dance troupe performs the harvest dance "Bhangra" at the Third Street Promenade during the Asian Cultural Fair on Saturday, August 27, 2011. Bhangra dance began as a folk dance conducted by Punjabi farmers in 11th century to celebrate the coming of the harvest season. The specific moves of bhangra reflect the manner in which villagers farmed their land. The fair was hosted by Singapore Airlines in celebration of the new Airbus A380.

Tango Instructors Lucas Molina Gazcón and Cecilia Piccinni dance on stage while Milongatron performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, August 25, 2011.