Busting a Move: A Review of Dancing with the Teachers
NEIRAD enilno edition
The atmosphere was energetic and enthusiastic on April 7th as the faculty of DHS took the stage to bust a move and compete to be crowned as the best dance couple. There was an excitement in the air that you could feel just walking into the auditorium. The audience was at the edge of its seat waiting to see which pair was dancing and what song their beloved teachers would be shaking it to. Forget Hines Ward or Kendra Wilkinson (“Dancing with the Stars” Season 12 celebrities), Darien has talent that not even the show can match.
When I was speaking to junior MC and dance team member Niya Wright, I asked her where the proceeds from the show were going and she told me, “50% of the money earned will go to the Locust Performing Arts Center in Stamford, 25% will go to the grade with the highest attendance tonight, and the final 25% to the DHS Dance Team.” The Locust Performing Arts Center is a professional dance studio that offers dance classes from Hip Hop to Jazz to Ballet.
I asked Niya how the “Dancing with the Teachers” idea came up and she responded, “At the homecoming football game, Ms. Young, Ms. Launer and I were talking over the idea because the same thing was done at Ms. Young’s old school so we thought we should definitely try here.” It may have taken a few months to produce but it was well worth the wait. Students and faculty alike were in for the surprise of the year.
As the esteemed hosts, junior Niya Wright and assistant principal Mr. Sullivan came to the stage to begin the proceedings the crowd grew silent in anticipation for this hyped up event to begin with a bang. The hosts started the mood with jokes and introductions to give the fans that extra bit of thrill before the dancers took the stage.
With the introductions came the surprise celebrity judges that no one saw coming. The always insightful Irish superstar Eileen O’McMurphy (Mrs. Bladgys), the British pop sensation Bella Bragg (Ms. Kenny), and the Randy Jacksonesque Rico Suave (Mr. Fisco) came out with a dance and a message to the competitors that they’ll be watching their every move searching for perfection.
Before our esteemed contestants took the stage, the DHS Dance Team came out to show the teachers how to really shake and move it. Their interpretation of Destiny Child’s Lose My Breath left everyone cheering for more and got the show started off with a bang.
I asked senior Libby Bora who she favored to win and she said, “Mrs. Leventhal all the way, I can tell she’s a good dancer because petite and sassy. She definitely knows how to shake it!”
The teams and choreographers were (in the order of appearance):
- Hai-Ming Wu and Sean Otterspoor – Choreographed by Daniela Orozco
- Pam Zago and Patrick Dooley – Choreographed by Stephanie Gaete
- Christine Leventhal and Dan Haron – Choreographed by Felicia Knise
- Rudy Spannaus and Mark Stepsis – Choreographed by Bettina Arkhurst
- Liz Wenzel and Gabe Morrow – Choreographed by Natasha Espitia and Niya Wright
- Jen Degenhardt and Paul Ribeiro – Choreographed by Megan Gregory
- Marj Trifone and Pat D’Agostino – Choreographed by Olaide Ajomaberin and Niya Wright
- Laura Young and Rob Trifone – Choreographed by Olaide Ajomaberin and Niya Wright
- Lisa Messineo and Jared Cross – Choreographed by Angelica Cortez and Nneoma Obieshi
Each couple displayed flair and innovative dance styles in their routines and the judges gave their scores with nothing but encouragement and praise. But the three crowd and judge favorites had to be the lovable pair of Principal Haron and Mrs. Leventhal, the new kids on the block Mr. Morrow and Ms. Wenzel, and the Jersey Shore pair of Coach Cross and Ms. Messineo.
The third act on the evening, Mr. Haron and Mrs. Leventhal came onto the stage with a roar from the crowd. There was so much anticipation for this group because so many thought that the odd pairing may not be able to successfully dance together. They came out in gold jump suits and parachute pants and the audience did not know what to think. As “Jump on It” and “Can’t Touch This” came over the speakers the pair began do the classic Tonto dance that sent the crowd wild. The couple seemed so different when they walked on the stage, the small and athletic Mrs. Leventhal, juxtaposed against the uptight and stiff Mr. Haron, but they had so much energy and passion in their dancing that when they finished all the seats were empty because everyone was on their feet for a standing ovation. Mr. Haron surprised me the most from his sheer liveliness while dancing with aspiring moves and facial expressions showing he really wanted to show his stuff to the student body.
I think the group that surprised everyone the most was the dance couple of Mr. Morrow and Ms. Wenzel. These two DHS rookies had a lot to prove with all the big name veterans competing alongside them. The two came out on different sides of the stage and met in the middle and began to tango and showed the judges and the fans that they knew what they were doing. Mr. Marrow surprised everyone because he was the best dancer yet to hit the stage. Their costumes displayed their excitement and dance. When the dance was coming to an end, Mr. Marrow made the icing on the cake with a floor spin to send the judges and crowd into hysteria.
The last, but certainly not least, couple to perform was the pairing of Coach Cross and guidance counselor Ms. Messineo. They came out to the surprise of the crowd dressed as members of the “Jersey Shore” cast. Ms. Messineo looked striking similar to Snookie with a spray tan and her staple “poof” hairstyle while Coach Cross, rocking a look similar to Ronnie, wore shades and a shirt only people in Jersey could like. The pair started dancing and the whole crowd loved it, from beginning to end you could feel they would end up winning the competition. The judges loved their performance and by the end of the show the Jersey Shore duo came out on top. I asked Coach Cross how the win felt and he said, “I’m speechless, just wait until season 2, it’ll blow season 1 out of the water.”
As the festivities were coming to a close and the lights were dimming the judges and teachers came together for one last group dance to resemble how fun the night was. As all the contestants and judges danced to “Teach Me How to Dougie” and “Soulja Boy I Tell ‘Em” everyone was leaving the theater with a smile on their faces and nothing to talk about but how great the event was.
I asked Ms. Young how she enjoyed the night and she responded, “The fans were phenomenal , Mr. Haron had moves no one could see coming, and the event tonight had a hugely positive effect on the students and the teachers.” Ms. Young was certainly right because I couldn’t name one person who didn’t enjoy themselves watching their endearing teachers dance the night away.
“Dancing with the Teachers” Season 1 was a giant success and everyone who attended loved it and found a new found respect and side to their teachers. The event brought the student body and teachers closer together and left everyone smiling and laughing the entire night. Just like Coach Cross said I’m sure Season 2 will be even more exciting and engaging.
