On Friday, February 6, the S.H.S. dance team held its annual kiddie camp performance during halftime of the boys’ varsity basketball game. This year, the theme was Disney.
Kiddie Camp is a fundraiser where kids ages four to eleven from the community can come and meet new people, play games, and learn a fun dance to perform. The Kiddie Camp is an event that both kids and the dance team look forward to.
Freshman Adalynne Molina says, “being a part of Kiddie Camp was such a fun experience! I loved spending time with all the kids and helping them learn their dance, and not only did I help them, I got to watch their personalities grow! The energy the girls brought to camp made everyday special.”
The kids are divided into three different groups based on their age. The first group is ages four to five, the second group is six to seven, and the third is eight to eleven. The dance team breaks off during their normal practices a week before the camp to come up with choreography together. This year, there were around 103 kids that signed up.
The dance team coach, Kennedy Anderson, splits up the team based on what age they would be best with. There is one senior in each group. Senior Ellie Kested was with the oldest group, and did their dance to “ When Will My Life Begin” from Tangled. Senior Morelia Vargas was with the middle group, and they did their dance to “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid. Senior Ellie Wendeleken was with the youngest group, and did their dance to “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from Lilo and Stitch. After every group finished their dance, all of the groups ran on together to do one last dance to “What Dreams Are Made Of” from the Lizzy McGuire movie.
Senior Ellie Wendeleken says, “I had so much fun being with the four and five year olds and it taught me a lot about how to work with little kids.”
The first practice was Tuesday, February 4, from four to five. All kids got their own name tags before splitting up into different rooms to learn their dances. The groups did skills across the floor, learned a short dance, and then played a game. On Friday at the game, the kids came early to practice their dances. Then, the kids and dance team sat together until the poms girls had to do the sidelines. The kids watched the girls do their sidelines, then at halftime, they performed their dances.
Junior Madelyn Oyen says, “I really enjoy working with the kids and seeing them having so much fun dancing.”
Overall, the S.H.S dance team kiddie camp is a fun way for kids to learn what it’s like to perform at a game, and the dance team to learn more about teaching kids.
