ROANOKE, Va. – “Cinco, seis, siete, ocho!”
Fourth graders at Highland Park Elementary School are learning to salsa their way through sentences.
With a passion for rhythm and a heart full of cultural pride, dance teacher Pedro Szalay is transforming the lives of local students through his innovative program, ‘Dance Español.’
“English is not my first language. English is my third language. That’s why it’s so important to encourage these dancers to be proud in what they want to do,” Szalay said.
Every week, fourth graders across Roanoke City Schools take dance lessons from ‘Señor Pedro’ - but it’s about more than dancing.
“To encourage these dancers to learn other languages,” Szalay said.
Roanoke City has a large Hispanic population - which is why Pedro wants to make sure all kids feel safe sharing their heritage.
“To incentivize my ESL students that are coming from other countries, especially Hispanic, to speak their language, don’t be afraid to speak their language,” he said.
The program has been up and running for close to 12 years, but every year, Pedro is finding new ways to connect with students.
And for the students that may not love to dance? They’re still learning skills they can take well beyond the dance floor.
“How to welcome them and to be proud of themselves. And self-esteem, teamwork, and encourage them to follow what the teachers are teaching them in their classroom. And that is very crucial because we’re enforcing if you say it, you will learn it faster,” he said.
“For you as a teacher, what is it like to look out on all these kids and see how confident they are already, just three weeks in?” 10 News Reporter Abbie Coleman asked.
“It’s so wonderful to see how they’re proud of themselves and have their identity for themselves. They’re not copying each other, they are themselves. It’s so wonderful. They can be leaders in the next generation,” he said.
For Pedro, dance speaks every language.
“Every country is different, but we speak the same language,” he said.
Original Story:
With a passion for rhythm and a heart full of cultural pride, dance teacher Pedro Szalay is transforming the lives of local fourth graders through his innovative program, ‘Dance Español.’
“English is not my first language. English is my third language. That’s why it’s so important to encourage these dancers to be proud in what they want to do,” Szalay said.
For decades, Szalay has taught dance but recognized a need for broader access to the art form, particularly for students who may not have the opportunity to learn.
Every week, fourth graders in Roanoke City gather for classes where they learn traditional dance techniques alongside basic Spanish vocabulary.
Szalay emphasizes the importance of discipline, self-confidence, and acceptance in his lessons, believing that dance is a universal language that transcends barriers.
“It’s so wonderful to see how they’re proud of themselves, and they have their identity for themselves. They’re not copying each other, they are themselves. It’s so wonderful. They can be leaders in the next generation,” Szalay said.
‘Dance Español’ has quickly become a highlight of the students’ week, allowing them to engage with both the rhythm of dance and the richness of the Spanish language.
Szalay’s initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of dancers and culturally aware individuals in Roanoke.
This is a continuing story. Please check back on air and online for updates.
