North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By John Smithson
The NMB High School varsity dance team had their annual summer dance camp last week and over 80 girls participated. The high school was a very busy place as the dance camp participants practiced in several different locations as they learned steps and turns they would use in the last day of their four-day camp.
Caroline Disano stood in the cafeteria near the school entrance with the youngest group of participants who were taking a break from dance. “We opened our camp to four-year-olds, and their team leaders have been extremely patient and loving toward them. We added a part of their day where they get to do a craft or some coloring to break up the time spent on movement,” Disano said.
“We also have added little instruments, parachutes and ribbon sticks so it’s more about just getting them moving. The older girls work more and focus on dance technique and movement across the floor- sweeps, turns and things like that.”
The camp had over 80 participants sign up this summer and Disano split them into six groups based on age. “Our dance team members act as team leaders for each group, and they choreograph a dance that each group performs at Thursday’s final camp performance. We also will do a group dance with all campers dancing together.”
“This is our third year of camp and our biggest ever. I first started a mini-Chiefs group at Ocean Drive Elementary School where I teach. It was an after-school program. When I started the dance team at the high school, I decided to make the mini-Chiefs a fundraiser for the team. We also transitioned from an afternoon club at ODE to a summer camp with the team. I had 35 to 40 kids in the after-school club and now have over 80 at this camp.”
With the camp having more dancers each year, Disano hopes to build interest in the dance team. “A lot of the girls in our older groups like 6th and 7th graders want to try out for the dance team but generally have to wait until high school. I hope this camp helps establish a feeder program for the team.”
The dance team started with 12 members and grew to 14 last year and Disano stated the team will feature 16 members this year.” I like to see the girls and boys who have graduated from our team come back as alumni at our camp and help teach our kids. We have several doing that this year.”
The dance team will be busy again this year. “We plan to perform at football and basketball games and be on the sidelines to perform at halftime this fall. We love to add another element to the game, get the crowd excited and show some school spirit. I know I am excited about another year.” Disano concluded.
The Chiefs 12U South Carolina team won their game with Mississippi Tuesday afternoon. Cam Shirley hit a two out home run in the first inning and after Mississippi tied the score at 1-1, the Chiefs took advantage of walks by Mississippi pitching to score six runs in the second inning to lead 7-1. They scored four more runs after that, one a solo home run by Kole Wilson as they won 11 -1. Jackson White pitched the bottom of the fifth and the Chiefs ended the game with a 6-4-3 double play.
The North Myrtle Beach High School Dance Team opened the dance camp final performances with a dance. The dancers also followed their dance with dances by six different age groups of campers. Their dance numbers were choreographed by the current team members.
