November 21, 2007

 

To Whom It May Concern,

 

The Aspen Community School, a K-8 charter school of the Aspen School District, has enjoyed an extremely successful eight year relationship with the non-profit dance/education company called Celebrate the Beat. The purpose of this letter is to detail some the many benefits Celebrate the Beat has brought to our school and community.

 

First and foremost, Celebrate the Beat is not “just about dancing.” When students participate in this multi sensory program they are learning about possibilities, self discipline, and the power of cooperation. By engaging in the audacious undertaking of learning and performing a theme based dance program, students come to understand that through focus, commitment and working hard together they can accomplish something wonderful.

 

I have witnessed the success of CTB each year at the Aspen Community School. This transformation is however, not magic. It is the result of the excellent instruction and creativity that Celebrate the Beat brings to the table. In particular, Tracy Straus has proven herself to be not only an outstanding dance instructor, but also an invaluable collaborator with my staff. Tracy has worked hard to integrate content themes into each dance. She “gets” the big picture and works hard to create learning that endures beyond the successful performance. Tracy Straus is an educator with vision, passion and talent. She has brought much to our school and community.

 

Celebrate the Beat is an invaluable opportunity for our students. I highly recommend this program for any school that is charged with developing the characteristics of persistence, teamwork, focus and excellence in their students. And yes, they will learn to dance and perform extremely well.

 

Please contact me directly if I can provide more information about this incredible program.

 

Jim Gilchrist –Principal

Aspen Community School

jgilchrist@discovercompass.org