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Southeast Middle Students, Staff Show Off Their Ballroom Dancing Footwork
Ballroom Dancing: The salsa beat impels these couples during the “Shall We Dance?” ballroom dance event at Hazelwood Southeast Middle School. At left are social studies teacher Matt Hieke and math teacher Brea Maurer while at right are students Malayssa Hughes and Khris Abbott.
The gym at Hazelwood Southeast Middle School turned into a ballroom dance floor lit only by a pair of spotlights as students and staff members swayed and twirled for parents, classmates, co-workers and visitors.
Dressed in their dancing finery – dress shirts and slacks for the boys and men, while the girls and women touted brightly colored, elegant dresses or gowns – they began with the meringue. Other dances they performed included the salsa, cumbia, swing, triple swing, Viennese waltz and line dancing. The students involved are part of an after-school social dance club.
“We are a dance group and we are just having fun,” said student Khris Abbott. “My favorite dance is the salsa because I get to move my hips a lot.”
Hazelwood Southeast Middle School Special School District teachers Andrew Black and Leah Fritz served as event emcees. They danced as well, along with social studies teacher Debby Jackson, physical education instructor Adam Hayes, math teacher Brea Maurer and social studies teacher Matt Hieke.
“This is a fun way to express how we like to dance,” said student Michelle Guzman. “My favorite dance is the cumbia. It has many different steps and movements to it. It’s really fun to dance it.”
Roseliza Moors, a math teacher at the school, sponsored the event.
“At the middle school level, it’s all about building relationships,” she said. “Not only did I want to teach them to dance together but I wanted them to be respectful for each other. I also wanted the kids to learn about commitment.”
Social studies teacher Sarah Miller, physical education teacher Dara Lucido and family and consumer science teacher Kelleen McFate also served as ushers. The group plans a similar event in April.
(story Courtesy of Hazelwood Communications Dept.)
