Sports

Finding the art of dance through school program

By Scott Wagar

03/06/2012

The Bottineau School District’s after school program has brought the art of dance to its students and with great results, and, a whole lot of fun.

“The dance program is through the after school program, 21st Century Community Learning Center,” said Codi Rybchinski, who is the Central School coordinator for the 21st CCLC after school program. “It’s a zumba class which the kids do on Mondays and Wednesdays. Crystal Grenier is the zumba teacher and she has a variety of dances that she teaches the kids.”

Zumba is a Latin dance, which was established by the Columbian dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez. He created the dance in the 1990s and it coordinates dance and aerobics elements through hip-hop, mambo, meringue, soca, samba, salsa and belly dancing. There are also elements of martial arts, along with squats and lunges.

Rybchinski added that during this year’s basketball season, the zumba after school dance team has performed at one of the basketball games, which saw great success. So much success, the group is preparing to do more performances next year.

“It (the performance at halftime) was great,” Rybchinski said. “We also needed sponsorships to help pay for the kids’ t-shirts they wear while performing, and a local family graciously helped towards those t-shirts. I’m hoping next year that we’ll be able to perform at more games.”

The after school program has been part of the Bottineau school system for three years and offers a variety of educational events for the kids to enjoy.

“The middle school has had the after school program for three years, but central started full time this year,” Rybchinski said. “The after school program has done some amazing things this year. We basically work on three main areas, which include reading, math and science.  We have also brought in NDSU Ext. Service agent, Karla Monson, and the Bottineau County Public Library director, Beth Reitan, to work with the students once a month. 

“And, we have Spanish Club every week and an Art Club every week,” Rybchinski continued to state. “We have also visited the community a couple of times with Christmas caroling and trick-or-treating.” 

The students of the after school program have gone tubing at the Bottineau Winter Park, too, and this past week spent an afternoon skating at the Bottineau Community Arena.

For more information on the Bottineau Public School’s after school program, contact Rybchinski at (701) 228-3014 or Marla Byrd at (701) 228-3718.