Fifth-graders have a ball, show off fancy footwork

Students learn to work together, communicate as partners.

William Birchwell and Kathryn Brooks dance inside the John XXIII school gymnasium in Middletown. The school's fifth-graders took several dance lessons and displayed what they learned on Tuesday, March 2.

Staff photo by Gary Stelzer William Birchwell and Kathryn Brooks dance inside the John XXIII school gymnasium in Middletown. The school's fifth-graders took several dance lessons and displayed what they learned on Tuesday, March 2.

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Staff photo by Gary Stelzer Michael Hough and Lauren Owens dance together Tuesday.

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By Marie Rossiter, Staff Writer 1:11 AM Thursday, March 4, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — The gymnasium at John XXIII Elementary could have been mistaken for a ballroom, Tuesday, March 2, as the fifth-graders took to the dance floor to show off some of their finest moves.

Kathryn Brooks and her partner, William Birchwell, smiled as they moved through ballroom dances such as the waltz and single-step swing in front of a group of impressed parents.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Kathryn said. “You get to dance with a partner, which is different than what I normally do.”

For five years, John XXIII has brought in a professional ballroom dancing instructor to teach the students some of the basic steps. Melinda Bour, an instructor at Miami University Middletown and the Ohio Ballroom Company in Middletown, said she loves returning every year to work with the children. The early lessons can be challenging as students work through the awkwardness involved with partner dancing, but any fear quickly diminishes as the weeks go on.

“None of them have had experience with anything like this,” Bour said. “We work them into it slowly with a single handhold for the swing and eventually it gets easier for them. It’s amazing to see how receptive they become to learning.”

Classes run once a week for about five months, according to Bour. In that time, the students learn enough for a performance to share with their families.

“The students really overcome a lot to get to this point,” Bour said. “From getting over their uneasiness to learning complicated steps, there is a lot involved.”

Principal Brenda Neu said the classes teach more than fancy footwork.

“They have to learn to work together and communicate as partners,” Neu said. “There is also an amount of respect involved. These are all lessons that they will use throughout their lives.”

Kathryn and William both said their favorite dance was the swing because it was “upbeat and got them moving.”

The two were friends before dance lessons started, so it wasn’t quite so “yucky” for them as for some of their peers to dance together.

“It was a little strange at first, but it turned out to be a lot of fun,” William said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or mrossiter@coxohio.com.

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