By Debbie Adams
The fourth and fifth graders at Bonsack Elementary School delighted audiences with their
performances in Bonsack’s traditional “Night of Music and Dancing” on December 19. Fifth
graders danced; fourth graders played their instrument of choice – glow-in-the-dark bucket
drums.
Dancing.” (photos by Debbie Adams)
Music teacher Katie Saunders began this ballroom dancing tradition back in 2016, inspired by
now-retired Roanoke County Public Schools music teacher Gloria Howell, who Saunders
worked with when she was teaching at Oak Grove Elementary. The program was interrupted by
the COVID years but has now returned to its full glory.
“A Night of Music and Dancing” was presented twice this year – in the afternoon for students in
grade K-3 and at night for the families of the fourth and fifth graders. Fifth grade students
dressed up for the evening performance, girls in dresses or skirts, and boys in suits or dress pants
and shirts. Fourth graders wore holiday attire.
The program opened with the fifth grade dancing the Fox Trot to Michael Bublé’s rendition of
“White Christmas.” The students had different partners for each of their dances, based on height
and whom they danced best with for each particular song.
“This group of students started out pretty awkwardly when dancing with the opposite sex,” said
Saunders. “As we continued the lessons, they blossomed into young ladies and gentlemen. This
is my favorite thing about the ballroom dancing lessons!”
Next, fourth graders played bucket drums to “Carol of the Drum,” in an arrangement of “The
Little Drummer Boy.” They chose their instruments (recorders were played in the early years of
the program), decorated their drums (with assistance from art teacher Joe Carnes), and chose the
songs they wanted to play.
“Fourth grade was all student centric!” Saunders said. “They picked the songs, decided on the
rhythms (with a little help from Saunders) and painted the buckets. They also were the ones who
asked if they could use black lights to make them glow in the dark. (They remembered this from
a few years ago when Carnes did a glow-in-the-dark art show with them).
“We used black lights and special paint, so the drums and drumsticks glowed in the dark,” said
Saunders. “This was new this year.”
Fifth graders did the Merengue (to the song “Menea”), their favorite of all the dances; they asked
to do it every time they had a lesson. Saunders had learned the dance on a mission trip to the
Dominican Republic several years ago working with local schools and churches there.
Next, fourth grade played bucket drums for “March of the Nutcracker,” followed by the fifth
grade and the Cha Cha, dancing to “Tea for Two.”
The fourth graders finished up their part of the program with “We Wish You a Merry
Christmas.”
In the grand finale, the fifth graders danced “The Swing” to “A Cool Yule” by Bette Midler.
Saunders says the Swing was the most challenging dance to learn – and yet, “the students learned
this dance in a week!”
Saunders and PE teacher Dustin King team-teach the dance lessons each year; he also assists
backstage at performances. Librarian Rose McCarthy helped with set-up and practices. Art
teacher Carnes assisted with the black lights and painting the buckets and mallets.
Fourth grade teachers Kim Riley, Nikki Hall, and Hayley Burnett helped backstage, along with
fifth grade teachers Laura Muncey and Morgan Buzzo.
Saunders thanked Principal Leanne Leftwich and Assistant Principal Stephanie Burris for
“supporting the arts program here at Bonsack. We appreciate you for your encouragement and
constant support.
“Mr. King and I are so proud of the work these students did to prepare for this program.”
