Teachers tear it up at Corona del Mar High dance-off
Educators shook their bodies to the beat Thursday night during Corona del Mar High School’s sixth annual Dancing with the Teachers event.
Students, parents and faculty members packed the gym at the Newport Beach campus to see teachers and administrators from CdM High and Middle schools team up with members of Orchesis, the high school’s dance team.
Dancers practiced about twice a week for a month leading up to the event in hopes of winning a mirror ball trophy. Music and choreography ranged from 1980s hits to Disney classics to popular hip-hop tracks.
A panel of judges composed of school staff critiqued the nine teams on their poise, confidence, technique, performance, entertainment and style. Audience members also could vote for their favorite team.
Science teacher Nicholas Breslin took the trophy as fan favorite. This was his second year in Dancing with the Teachers.
Breslin got in the spirit by dying his hair red for his role as Sebastian, the red crab in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” His high kicks and twirls won over the crowd, and he even sang.
“Dancing terrifies me, but I did this for fun,” Breslin said. “I’m flabbergasted people voted for me.”
The judges’ trophy went to science teachers Jessica Abulencia and Heather Kroeger, who, dressed in black hoodies and sweatpants, danced a hip-hop routine and threw fake money.
“I was really nervous, but it feels nice to be out there,” Kroeger said. “I felt like we had a shot this year.”
This was the third time both had participated in the event.
“We worked really hard during practice,” Abulencia said. “It was a lot of fun and the energy was really great.”
Dancing with the Teachers is a fundraiser for Orchesis. It also included performances from students throughout the Newport-Mesa Unified School District who were interested in learning choreography from the dance team.
Twitter: @vegapriscella
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