For the past three weeks, students at Warm Springs Middle School in Murrieta have been learning more than just reading, writing and arithmetic.
Warm Springs Middle School students take part in the dance program Friday. (Andrew Foulk/SWRNN)
They have been learning how to dance with weekly classes. Students also have been encouraged to bring home their dancing shoes and get their family members involved.
So Friday night, students and their family members filled the multipurpose room at the school and showed off their new footwork.
The “Dance Unit” program, which lasts for three weeks, teaches students grade-specific dances as well as large group dances that all students participate in.
Some of the grade-specific dances include the Salsa, folk dances, line dances, polkas and the Tango.
The large-group dances feature popular moves like the Electric slide, and choreographed dances from “Footloose,” “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Men in Black.”
“One of our former P.E. teachers had the idea to do this,” department chair Karen Morgan-Voyles said. “It was kind of her vision to have the kids go home and practice all the dances they learned at their P.E. class. (Then), at the end students bring their parents in and have a fun family night where they can do the dances they taught their parents.”
Another function of the event was to raise money. There was a $3 ticket charge for the event, and snacks and pizzas were sold throughout the night.
“We use it as a fundraiser to help support our P.E. program,” Morgan-Voyles said.
“I just think it’s a nice event for the families to see what the kids are doing. It gives (the students) an opportunity to kinda show the parents what they’ve been doing,” said Deborah Hadrych, of Murrieta, whose daughter is in sixth grade at Warm Springs Middle School.
Throughout the night, the center of the multipurpose room was filled with all ages taking part in every style of dance — some knew every step, while others just barely managed follow along.
When asked what she most looked forward to during the dance, eighth-grader Elisa Camacho said, “Seeing all the kids dancing with their parents and just having a good time.”
Andrew Foulk is a freelance writer and photographer.
Loading ...
