Physical education teacher Margaret Voedisch leads third-graders in a rehearsal for Sherman Elementary School’s annual dance show.
It may be the most unique, high-energy spectacle this side of Broadway.
Sherman Elementary School’s annual dance show -- “Motown” is the theme this year -- will have its usual standing-room-only audience by the time preschoolers open the program with “Please, Mr. Postman” at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.
Physical education teacher Margaret Voedisch organizes the yearly extravaganza, which dates to 2001.
“It’s coming together. The kids are enjoying the Motown music and they’re getting their routines down,” she said.
Soft-spoken third-grader Niyae Martin offered a shy, barely audible response when asked if he likes to dance. “Sometimes,” he said in a voice just above a whisper.
But when the Isley Brothers’ 1959 hit “Shout” boomed through the gym during rehearsal, Niyae was all arms and legs as he gyrated to Voedisch’s lead.
Voedisch designed the dances for each grade level and for the show-ending staff number “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
“I started listening to the music in February, then began choreographing the routines. We started rehearsing early in March,” said Voedisch, whose past show themes have included Broadway musicals, hip hop and Zumba.
While the themes change, the shows always embody a regimen of physical fitness standards. Aside from the obvious exercise involved, Voedisch said, the dance numbers teach rhythm and following routines.
The shows began well over a decade ago.
“I think it was about 2001. I’ve kind of lost track,” Voedisch said. “We started out having a dance show one year and a jump rope show the next. We alternated like that until about 2006 when we started doing the dance shows every year.”
Parents, grandparents and others will begin arriving early on Friday – as they do every year – in search of a parking space and a seat in the gymnasium. The show will run for about 90 minutes.
Physical education teacher Tom Finnerty offered high praise of Voedisch as he put the third-graders through a series of warm-up exercises before they began their rehearsal.
“She made up all of these dances,” he said. “She’s a choreographer. She should be in New York City.”
Lineup for Sherman’s Motown dance show
Preschool
“Please, Mr. Postman”
“(Love is like a) Heat Wave”
Kindergarten
“Just My Imagination”
“Sugar Pie Honey Bunch (I Can’t Help Myself)”
First Grade
“Do You Love Me”
“ABC”
Second Grade
“Dancing in the Streets”
“Signed Sealed Delivered”
“Tears of a Clown”
Students of Miss Fedelli, Mrs. Studer
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
“Rockin’ Robin”
Third Grade
“My Girl”
“Dancing Machine”
“Shout”
Staff
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
.