The Superior Express -

The Pike Valley seventh and eighth graders made good use of their advocacy time last week and were able to take dance lessons together! Christy Newman, one of the teachers for the Republican Valley Dancers, joined the junior high students for four days and taught them the two-step, waltz and jitterbug leading up to their junior high dance held on Friday night.

The young men were taught how to properly ask a girl to dance by saying, "May I have this dance?" and then offering their hand as an invitation. At the end of each hour, the young men had the opportunity to ask a young lady to dance and compete with the other couples on the gym floor. Then, at the end of the week, each couple competed for points during a two-step, waltz and a jitterbug song. The winners with the highest points were awarded candy!

Unfortunately, there were never nearly enough girls to dance with, so it was especially awesome for all seven of these couples who chose to compete together: Morgan Shelton and Emma Erickson, Aubrey Blazek and Jack Wiezorek, Andy Cooper and Breanna Reeves, Sean Morgan and Fayeth Dahl, in third place were Reese Douglas and Miles Rickard, in second place were Clayton Carlgren and Josiah Field (who stepped in to help the junior high boys have more dance partners on this day) and Elijah Field and Savannah Junek who won first place.

It was enjoyable to see each of them enjoy dancing and see their confidence grow each day The junior high student council and the staff invited Newman to teach the students and helped make the class time and facilities available for dance lessons.

The public and all students are welcome to attend dance lessons held at the Courtland Arts Center, especially with prom approaching. Everyone is invited to join the Republican Valley Dancers to learn the Jitterbug on Thursdays, March 5 and 26. It's a fun, fast-paced dance with no complicated footwork, but lots of spins, twists and turns that is sure to make onlookers jealous that they haven't learned how to dance it.