World-Champion Ballroom Dancer Visits Dickinson

‘Dancing in Jaffa’ brings Jewish and Israeli-Palestinian children together through dance

Internationally renowned ballroom dancer Pierre Dulaine will bring his expertise to Dickinson for a special dance class and a screening of the acclaimed documentary, Dancing in Jaffa. The event will be held Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in Mathers Theatre in the Holland Union Building.

Dancing in Jaffa, directed by Hilla Medalia, documents Dulaine’s mission to bring his program, Dancing Classrooms, to Jaffa, Israel, in 2011. In a 10-week course of ballroom dancing lessons, Dulaine works with Jewish and Palestinian-Israeli children, teaching them to look beyond their prejudices and respect one another. The film focuses on the stories of three children and a teacher, culminating in a final dance competition. Dancing in Jaffa explores how the future might unfold if the art of movement and dance could triumph over the politics of history and geography.

Dulaine began dancing at age 14 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. In 1976, he met his dance partner, Yvonne Marceau, in New York City. The two won numerous awards and accolades, including four world championship titles in slow dancing. In 1994, Dulaine founded Dancing Classrooms, a program that teaches students important life skills through social dance. Dancing Classrooms has been tremendously successful and has expanded to 31 cities around the world.

The event is sponsored by the Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues and co-sponsored by the Department of Theatre & Dance and the Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life. It is the final screening in the Movement Matters Film Series, which included three documentaries exploring dance as a vehicle for social change and personal transformation.

Learn more

• Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues
• Department of Theatre & Dance
• Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life
• The Arts at Dickinson
• Latest News

Published March 8, 2016