Take a group of highly recognizable people – some with actual talent and some with just a talent for being a good sport – dress them up, turn up the music, let them feel the beat and wait for the fun to begin. I
f it works for ABC television, FBLA officers figured it would work for them. That’s why Great Bend High School’s Future Business Leaders of America chose Dancing with the Staff as its big spring fund raiser. The takeoff on Dancing with the Stars is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday at the GBHS auditorium. Tickets are $3 at the door.
The idea first surfaced at nationals last year in Nashville, Tenn., recalled Tory Arnberger, club president. “Mrs. (Cody) Lee (club sponsor) told us about her adviser workshop where they shared some fundraising ideas. Another FBLA had done this event before and said it was a success, so we thought we’d try it,” Arnberger said.
“We thought it would be a lot of fun for both teachers and students,” said Vice President Donna Craven. Students who agreed to dance selected their own teacher dance partners, Craven explained. “We let seniors and then juniors fill the nine spots. We think it will give the underclassmen something to look forward to doing next year,” she added.
Robert Johnson, ag teacher, was approached by Arnberger about the dance competition. “Mrs. Lee has done such a great job with her program I wanted to support their efforts,” Johnson said. “It also helps when my babysitter is my partner and she knows that I would do anything possible for her. She kind of used that against me to get me to do it.”
For Dan Eyestone, social studies teacher, and Karen Clark, German teacher, the reason for participating was simple.
“I was asked,” said Eyestone.
“I have a hard time saying no when asked to do stuff for the school, especially when the students ask,” Clark agreed. “I am a little excited, a little nervous, but it’s a no-lose situation,” Johnson said. “I am a horrible dancer, but it will be a blast no matter what happens. I have a pretty big comfort zone, but dancing — outside of a wedding reception — puts me outside of it.”
“I am more of a behind-the-scenes type person and I have never been a dancer,” Clark said, although she admits to participating in cardio dance every week and being able to do the Electric Slide, the Cha-Cha Slide and the Cupid Shuffle “like no other. My specialty though would have to be the Hand Jive.” Any dance experience Eyestone has he chalked up to the discos in the 70s, the dance bars of the 80s and the country western taverns.
Students and their teacher partners are responsible for their own music, choreography and costumes. No one is offering up any details, so that everything can be presented as a surprise. “This is all about having fun and raising some money for a great cause,” Johnson said. “The high school kids will love it and it helps generate school spirit. All of the high school staff involved deserves tons of credit.
“We all have many other things going on in our lives, but are making sacrifices to help,” he said. “There are not too many people willing to act a fool in front of peers, students and strangers out of the kindness of their hearts. There are certain teachers who go above and beyond the normal duty day and some will be on display that night.” Forgetting the dance steps or falling on their faces is the biggest fear for most of the teachers. For Johnson, it’s at the other end of the spectrum.
“I don’t want to open myself up for other offers that might come from my sweet moves,” he joked. “I sure hope there isn’t anybody from Dancing with the Stars on hand that night. I just don’t have time to do this for them.”
The dancers are: Karen Clark and Haley Deines; Carrie Minton and Aaron Mull; Jeremy Foster and Amber Kasselman; Robert Johnson and Tory Arnberger; Barbi Harris and Ali Heilman; Katie Homolka and Andrew Koster; Andrea Maxwell and Allan Clark; Dan Eyestone and Brooke Tiemeyer; and Chris Battin and Marcella McCluskey.