Participants from “Mad Hot Ballroom” to Speak at Gifted Children Conference at C.W. Post
Symposium will address the unique needs of gifted students * October 21-22, 2005

September 22, 2005 – Brookville, NY – The teachers, cultural arts director and principal of PS 144 in Queens, NY —the school featured in the highly acclaimed film “Mad Hot Ballroom,”— will discuss the excellence, competition, motivation and “the rage to master,” involved in ballroom dancing at the annual meeting of Advocacy for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE). The two-day conference, titled “Preparing to Lead: Building Talent in School and Society,” will take place Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 2005 at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville.

The film, which made its debut in the Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of how a group of New York City public school students entered the world of ballroom dancing. It chronicles the journey of these students as their special talent of dancing is discovered and nurtured. The discussion will be a part of a series of panel workshops at the conference. The participants will provide a look inside the film and discuss what they, their students and their families learned about dancing, determination and dreams.

The development of gifted and talented youth and the struggle to properly meet their academic and social needs will be the main focus of the conference. “With the world climate approaching a level playing field in terms of technological, economic and social advances, it’s important we take a long-term approach in educating and supporting our gifted and talented students,” said Joseph Piro, coordinator of the conference and assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction at C.W. Post. “There is now competition in areas where the United States once dominated, like technology and research. Gifted students will be the big thinkers – inventors, scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators – and they will keep us at an advantage. We must nurture and support these students so we ensure the long-term success of the United States.”

Representative Jerrold Nadler from the 8th Congressional District in New York State, an advocate for educational and enrichment programsfor gifted and talented students, is scheduled to speak at the luncheon on Friday. Dr. Abraham J. Tannenbaum, Professor Emeritus at Teachers College, Columbia University and author of “Gifted Children: Educational and Psychological” (Macmillan Publishing, 1983), will discuss “Giftedness: The Ultimate Instrument for Good and Evil.” Roger Tilles, member of the New York State Board of Regents, will address “Challenges for the Gifted.”

Expert practitioners, policy makers, parents, teachers, administrators and others with an interest in understanding and addressing the unique needs of the gifted will participate in roundtable discussions and workshops. Topics include the moral development of young gifted students, stress relief, enhancing the learning process and practical ideas and activities for gifted children.            

On Friday evening, attendees are invited to a performance of the Munich Symphony Orchestra with conductor and pianist Philippe Entremont at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the C.W. Post Campus. Paul Kim, Ph.D. of the C.W. Post Department of Music will give a pre-performance talk, “What Makes it Beethoven?”

AGATE is a nonprofit organization of concerned parents and educators designed to promote the education and welfare of gifted and talented children. It does so through the dissemination of information, sponsorship of activities that stimulate and encourage the development of improved programs and practices for the education of the gifted and talented. AGATE also conducts research that will be of use to educators of gifted children and sponsors statewide conferences, meetings and workshops.