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Show ' " r f i , i ' t ' A. w ( - v i . ; i v "- STY-NINE Vernal Junior High students get their first taste ::"at modern dancing is all about in a new dance class offered :e lumor high. Junior high svudenvs boogie vo beav in new dance classes "Five, six, seven, eight," is the que given to the dance students at the beginning begin-ning of a dance routine. Once the que is given, the students begin their dance steps they've learned for that paticular dance. This is the first year the Vernal Junior High has offered dance classes to their students. According to Donna Roberts, dance teacher at the junior high, it was Dr. Chikls. (principal), idea to have a dance class offered. He came to her to see if she would be interested in teaching the dance class. "They've made a lot of progress," said Mrs. Roberts. "At the beginning of the year very few of them had ever had a dance class in their life. By the end of the term they were doing some very difficult dances and doing a good job of it." Last fall when the first class was offered, of-fered, it was for the ninth grade students. There were 26 enrolled in the class. This term they have a class offered to the eighth grade students. There are 39 enrolled in this class. The students receive P.E. credit for Die dance classes. Mrs. Roberts said the classes begin with Jane Fonda's exercises. At the beginning of each class period they start with stretch exercises. Then the girls learn and work on dance routines. The girls are working on dances to perform per-form for the Festival of the Arts to be held April 25. They will perform three dance routines. The dance class will perform at a choir concert in May. This is the first time to have a dance class perform at the choir concert. Mrs. Roberts said interest in dance classes has grown since last fall. Mr. Massey at the junior high said there are quite a few signing up for the dance clases for next year. At this time they are planning on a class for the eighth grade and a class for the ninth grade students. Mrs. Roberts said she chooses the dance routines the students will do. She said she uses music that is "unique". They do dances to modern music, pop, as well as going back and getting some from the movie "All That Jazz". "I've danced since I was five years old," said Mrs. Roberts. Her parents enrolled her in dance classes. She taught dance all through high school. When she started teaching school she opened up a dance studio in Texas. There is a dance program at the Uintah Uin-tah High School. Mrs. Roberts said that by having dance classes in the Junior High it will "open doors for them." She said it will give them the experience they need. I " i " ' ! . -,' r ! W JUNIOR HIGH DANCE STUDENTS prepare routine for the Fine Arts Festival. 7 r i i BEING IN DANCE most of her life, being a dance teacher is natural for Donna Roberts. |
