Why dance with the stars when you can be “dancing with dreams”?

That’s what students at East Harlem’s PS/MS 57 will be doing during the coming academic year.

Each year, the school chooses a theme, and projects are focused around it, said Principal Israel Soto, who won the 2009 New York Post Liberty Medal in the Educator category for turning the failing school into one that earned an “A.”

This year’s theme will be “dancing with dreams,” he said, “and we’ll highlight all of the dreamers that impacted the world,” including Walt Disney, the Wright brothers, George Washington Carver and Bill Gates.

“Dreams come true if you work hard, if you work with dedication, if you love what you’re doing,” said Soto, citing his school as an example.

“This was a failing school with big dreams, and who thought we’d get to this stage? But we’re still dreaming of better things for our kids.”

The principal said when he accepted his Liberty Medal at last fall’s ceremony, he did so on behalf of his students. He said he was inspired by meeting his fellow honorees.

“When you look at ordinary people doing extraordinary things, you reflect on what you can do to make the world a better place,” he said. “I left inspired to do more.”