Fulton School’s Dance Club is one of the many activities that have students on the move. This after-school club ran from September through December and was open to all students in third, fourth, and fifth grades.
Club sponsors Mrs. Anne Jackson, Ms. Claire Hyre and Miss Shannon Gorman started the club as a way to bring extra exercise into the lives of students. Miss Hyre said, “We started to think of how to get the kids more exercise time. We’ve done several Staff Flashmobs and we just thought it was a fun way to bring exercise and socializing together for the students. The program is 100% free and there was no previous dance requirement. We also do not have tryouts. We had 30 students this past semester.”
“School District 146 has long been known for promoting a healthier lifestyle to its students, staff, and community, so this one really fits our District’s plans”, said Mrs. Jackson.
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Club sponsors also saw positive reasons for the club as it was a way for the younger students to learn to dance without the hassle and cost of formal dance lessons. So, for 45 minutes once a week, they met to learn dance routines. “Working together builds team spirit,” Miss Gorman said. “I think my favorite part of dance club was watching the students learn from each other. We had 3rd graders helping 5th graders and vice versa. It was a group effort.”
The group performed a dance to Katy Perry’s “Roar” on Fulton’s morning news broadcast. The group also performed live at the Winter Sing assembly to the Dean Martin classic “Marshmallow World.” Mrs. Jackson said, “The crowd in the gym spontaneously applauded during their kick line. That was a huge boost to the students’ self-esteem. It was a memorable moment for all!”
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The students clearly love being a part of the activity. Some of the 4th graders were asked about their thoughts and one participant said, “I think Dance Club was the best club I’ve ever been in. The girls and teachers who were there were like family.”
Miss Gorman said, “In a world filled with video games and TV shows, the dance club is a great way to get students up and active and socializing with fellow dance lovers! We all had a great time together, learned a lot from each other, and were very sad to see it end… until next time dancers!!”
