What does the staff at Windham/Raymond schools have in common with the likes of Christina Aguilera, David Hasselhoff and Brandy? Dancing, that’s what.
Just like the hit ABC show “Dancing with the Stars,” the staff at RSU 14 are about to go head-to-head and hip-to-hip during the first annual Dancing with the Staff competition, a fundraiser for Project Graduation.
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You’ve got to hand it to the staff for stepping up.
“Ninety-five percent of the volunteers have never performed,” said Mary Wassick, event producer and former school board member. “For them to say yes and learn this choreography is pretty inspiring.”
Ten teams made up of two staff members apiece will perform in two dance sessions. The first elimination round begins at 7 p.m. March 9 at the high school arts center in Windham. The finale is scheduled the same time on March 16. With only a week between sessions, those who advance to the final round must learn an entirely new routine in a mere seven days.
To get the routines right, the folks at Project Graduation approached local dance schools for professional choreographers who are donating their time.
Shelly Cook, a sixth-grade middle school teacher, will be strutting her stuff at the competition and says, “Bring it on!” She and her partner, industrial technology instructor Jason Lanoie, are ready for the competition.
“We’re doing a song from ‘Grease,’ ” Cook said. “We even have a prop, the Greased Lightning car, so maybe I can hide behind that for a while if I get uncomfortable!”
Cook and Lanoie will battle it out against the likes of Spanish teacher Beth Bubier and physical education teacher Hal Leighton. They’ll be mixing it up with a spicy salsa number.
“Our choreographer at Maine Ballroom agreed to give us four lessons,” Bubier said.
Just like the ABC show, the audience will vote on the routines. There will also be a panel of judges made up of school staff.
Talk of the event has been all the rage at school. A Facebook page, “Dancing with the Staff,” is up for comments and early voting.
Despite performance anxiety and even the outlandish nature of the event, staff says they’re proud to support a good cause. Wassick said Project Graduation is a positive experience, serving as one last time together for students who’ve completed a significant milestone.
“When we leave high school, we may be leaving friends behind that we’ll never see again,” Wassick said. “The graduation ceremony is often chaotic at the end because you’re spending time with family and maybe saying quick goodbyes to a few friends. Project Grad provides a chance for everyone to reconnect and celebrate completing 13 years of school.”
Tickets to the event are $5 and $10 and are available at the door, or at any school in Windham and Raymond.
Don Perkins is a freelance writer who lives in Raymond. He can be reached at: presswriter@gmail.com
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