Dance lessons in ballroom pay off in classroom for students in Washington Heights

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS (WABC) --
They may be learning the waltz, but if you look closely, a young group of dancers in Washington Heights is learning much more than that, like etiquette and confidence.

And leaders of this group says those lessons in the ballroom translate to better performance in the classroom.

They are only 10 and 11 years old, but the children of PS 48 on 186th Street, approach one another as ladies and gentlemen.

Mr. Enrico Mayuga addresses his students the same way.

"At first I was scared, no one ever called me that before", says one young dancer, "It feels good to learn new dance moves, to learn how to dance politely - to be elegant."

Mayuga's impeccable manners are fitting since he teaches everything from ballroom dancing to salsa and the waltz, things not always taught at even the finest private schools.

One of the students, Melissa, has cerebral palsy and has no trouble keeping up with everyone else.

And guess what? These kids all see their confidence and grades soar.

"This is like an old-school opportunity to actually communicate with some of their classmates in a different format, through touching, which is huge" said Mayuga. "We teach them merengue, fox trot, rumba, the tango, the swing and the waltz."

Best of all, 100% of the dancers are on free lunch. The classes are paid for by nice people like Chanel model, and mom Agatha Relota, who even wrote a book about the kids.

"Poise, elegance, respect for one another, I love the fact that kids have to look one another in the eyes. It's really wonderful," said Relota.

Not bad for a bunch of 10 and 11 year old ladies and gentlemen.