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. 

    Our subsequent annual ballroom dance festivals have featured nearly 200 students each, who also performed for school carnivals, Cinco de Mayo celebration, school assemblies, PTA, and senior citizen centers. For video, see our "Pictures and Video" page.  

    The Kansas City Missouri School Districts ballroom dance festival in May of 2010 included high school students for the first time and a special wheel chair dance performance which was covered by the local news. 

We're growing

     In recent years the program has significantly expanded the number of schools and school districts served.  To date, we have provided ballroom dance lessons to 6 public school districts including many elementary and high schools, as well as a whole class of wheelchair dancers and their partners.  We have found all children enthusiastic about learning swing dance as well as Latin dancing to both Latin and pop music, giving them fun, but appropriate, styles of dance for high school dances.

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

Shelia Thomson, Secretary

Paula Marie Daub, Treasurer

Christine Evans, Member at Large

Amelia Ragan, Member at Large

Advisory Board Members:

Carl DiCapo - community advisor

Cheryll Jones - media consultant

Dr. Gene Chavez - school counselor

Velma Brewer - special ed advisor

Sandra Hader - C.P.A.

Mike Strong - video consultant

Tim Stark - music Services

Nicole English - research advisor

Luis Rivera - after school activities

Mr. & Mrs. Vince Matthews - dance shoes / clothes closet

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.

Brandon White

Specialist with expertise in teaching special needs students and wheelchair ballroom dancing.  See Brandon on YouTube dancing with his wheel chair dance partner, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHiycB72b4w  and here they are featured on NBC Action News:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-uKg02aoB8&NR=1&feature=fvwp

We are indeed fortunate to have Brandon on our staff!

Sheila Thomson

Certified K-12 school teacher with ballroom dance expertise and other dance experience

Aaron Johnson

 Dance instructor with experience working with elementary and secondary school students.