Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Health and physical educators-in-training will put down their pencils to take a final exam of a different sort as participants in a dance competition. In the annual University of North Carolina Wilmington World Championship Ballroom and Latin Dance Competition, future teachers will showcase their skill in seven different dance styles including rumba, waltz, polka, shag and others.

WHEN: 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 10

WHERE: UNCW Hanover Gym aerobics room, adjacent to Trask Coliseum

WHAT: Twenty-four students in the course Educational Dance and Gymnastics K-12 will take an exam modeled after an international ballroom/Latin dance competition, including costumes, prizes and scores judged by UNCW judges.

Now in its 17th year, the dance competition focuses on applying physical education skills learned in the classroom. Course professor John Bennett brings his expertise as a former international ballroom competitor to the event. He said, "We teach students that physical fitness is a lifetime pursuit. These types of activities are exactly what we hope our students carry into their own classrooms to change the lives of children." Students from previous semesters will also be participating in the festivities.

Media are invited to capture dancing and interviews with participants by request.

Media Contact:
Joy Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.916.8603 or davisjc@uncw.edu