It's Strictly Ballroom at M.S. 74 in Bayside

Northeast Queens students displayed some fancy footwork during a special ballroom dancing presentation at Community District Education Council 26’s monthly meeting last night at Bayside’s M.S. 74.

Students from Fresh Meadows’ P.S. 26, Bayside’s P.S. 41 and Holliswood’s P.S. 178 showed off their moves, performing everything from traditional ballroom steps to a swing dance to Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road, Jack.”

This year’s citywide ballroom dancing semi-finals will take place on May 14 and finals will be held on May 15.

In 2006, Douglaston’s P.S. 98 won the citywide Dancing Classrooms competition. The program, which was founded in 1994 by Pierre Dulaine, is operated at citywide schools and has been the focus of two feature films – “Mad Hot Ballroom” and “Take the Lead.”

At last night’s meeting, the district education council honored Dena Poulos, who is retiring as principal of Oakland Gardens’ P.S. 162.

The council also introduced Kathleen Driscoll, who will take over as principal, as well as three new assistant principals – Joseph Ferrara, Jason Chin and Melissa Gluszak.

The new administrators said they were excited to begin work in the school district, which is often ranked among the city’s best.

“It is a tremendous honor,” Chin said. “I’m truly fortunate to have started my career as a teacher and, now, I’m an administrator in the district.”