Hoover Wood tudents get into the swing at school

The last time I visited the Hoover Wood Dance Festival, I saw dancers who watched their feet and counted every beat. The pain of dancing with someone from the opposite sex showed not only on their faces but also in their actions with boys refusing to put their arms around the waists of their partners.

Now dancing has found a comfortable home at the east side elementary school. Students in the early grades not only showed how much fun dancing can be, but they were eager to get on the floor and "strut their stuff." They did a variety of square dancing moves with the help of their caller, Ranea Breen the school's music teacher.

"Swing you partner," called Breen. The kids immediately went into a quick turn.

Students in third grade showed their prowess by doing the dances without the help of the caller's instructions. As they do-si doe'd through the different moves you could tell that there was a certain pride in being able to do the dance on their own.

Fourth graders took the floor for line dancing and were surprised to see an addition to their well rehearsed dance. As the kids donned cowboy hats and sunglasses, the tune, "The Funky Cowboy" came on. Before they could say "Grapevine to the left," they saw their principal, Lew Girmscheid, appear, riding a hobby horse through the dancers.

Michael Gomez almost lost a step as he stopped to see the popular principal show off his dance moves.

Maggie Newf giggled with delight when she caught sight of him.

"I thought it was really funny," she said. "I never expected it."

Maggie told me that she and her fellow students have mastered quite a few dances after their ballroom dance classes last year and the dances they learned this year.

We've learned the fox trot, the rumba, the swing, the tango, the marangá and the waltz," she said. "And don't forget the funky chicken."

The tango? For nine year olds.?

We were taught to be like panthers in the jungle," she added.

Some of the kids enjoyed watching the dances as much as doing them.

"I loved watching the teachers do their dance," said Kaitlyn Hansen. "I think Miss Zielke was making up her dance moves as she went along."

Others who enjoyed watching were the many parents seated along the dance floor. It was great to see so many dads there cheering their kids along.

Joe Holleman was there supporting his daughter, Reese, who is in kindergarten.

"The only time I had dance classes was in high school, and then it was square dancing,"he said. "When the prom came around, I was really nervous."

Most of the parents think the dance classes, which fulfill a state requirement, are great for the kids.

Joe Holleman agrees and he knows the pressure is on. He has already taken his daughter to a daddy daughter dance.

"I expected the kids to do circle dances and when we got there everyone was dancing," he added. "Now that she is getting these dance classes, I'm going to have to step it up to dance with her."

He'll soon learn that most little girls don't care what their dads do with their feet. They're just happy to be dancing in daddy's arms.