Catholic school principal sees dance as basic step in education

Published: 2004-06-24

DYER, Ind. (CNS) -- Jim Wiltshire's father, who was an athlete, wanted his son to take dance lessons, but the younger Wiltshire passed on the idea until he went to college. "I didn't know what I was missing," said Wiltshire, principal at St. Joseph School in Dyer. "Dancing helped me with my rhythm, in college classes and with band." He wants to give his middle-school students that same opportunity, but at a younger age. In the spring, Wiltshire, who is in his first year at St. Joseph, started offering dance lessons after school on Fridays to students in grades 5-8. His first class drew 14 students -- 11 girls -- and a few interested parents. He taught the class through the end of the school year and plans to offer the program again in the fall. Eventually, he would like to offer the class to adults as well. Dancing can help develop athleticism, agility and balance, he told the Northwest Indiana Catholic, newspaper of the Gary Diocese. But it also nurtures confidence in social situations, especially for those at that awkward middle-school age, he noted.

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