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February 13, 2009

Students put on their dance shoes

New EDGE Academy class a hit

Derrick Miller

DUNCAN — EDGE Academy students are learning a few steps in history — make those dance steps.

About 40 EDGE students, and even some of the alternative education teachers, are learning to ballroom dance. While ballroom dancing is an older art form, it has been returning to popularity, thanks primarily to TV dance shows, like ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Three classes of about 10 to 15 students began their lessons in the multi-curriculum activity on Monday. By Thursday afternoon, the pupils had the skills necessary to tango, waltz and cha-cha. The students plan to have several dances before a performance Feb. 20 at the school.

Tonya Kilburn with Prairie Dance Theatre in Oklahoma City is the one teaching students their new moves. Kilburn grew up in Velma, and the return to Stephens County is somewhat of a homecoming, she said.

Her focus was to teach the students, none of whom had any background in classical dance, and get them to be comfortable with the movements and interacting with each other.

“You would think it would be more challenging than it has been,” Kilburn said. “We as humans just love to move. Dance is a natural instinct.”

Kilburn is teaching dance in on an Oklahoma Arts Council grant. The school received an alternative education grant from the state.

Each weekday, the students have been and will continue to get together to learn the dance steps until the final program. They are using the school’s art room, which has the only hardwood floors that are original with the school building, which in itself is historic.

During the upcoming program, the students will wear formal attire, on loan to the school by secondhand stores. These clothes are meant to complete the aesthetics of the program.

The theme is “Midnight Masquerade.”

Counselor Jana Oakman said the students are getting quite a bit out of the lessons, which go far beyond learning a few dance steps.

“They’re getting out of their comfort zones,” Oakman said.

“They’re learning to coordinate with each other. It’s a cultural experience.

“The main thing is they’re having fun.”

She said dancing has been therapeutic for the students and teaches the students to respect the boundaries of others.

In addition to the life skills they’re learning, the students are also learning several traditional subjects.

“They’re learning history through dance,” Oakman said.

“They’re learning math. It’s cross-curriculum.”

On the first day, the students were focused on learning how to move as solo dancers.

Kilburn said she was amazed by how much the youths had learned since the first day.

She said she expected them to improve and to put on quite a display.

Oakman said she enjoys getting to see the students develop and grow from the experience. She said she also liked getting to see Tom Berninger, EDGE Academy principal, break out into his own fashion of dancing.

“If he doesn’t know the move, he’ll bust any move,” Oakman said.

She said all the students and teachers, who are taking part in the ballroom dancing, are having fun, and everyone is looking forward to the final dance.

“They’re having a blast,” Oakman said.

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