Local dance studio steps into new Sacred Heart school program
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - This is a press release from Hattiesburg Ballroom and Beyond.
Sacred Heart School, located in Downtown Hattiesburg, is getting a new addition to their extra curricular activities this upcoming year. Starting in August, the Silver Saders will debut as the school’s new Dance Team. The group, currently made up of 6th and 7th grade girls, will perform choreographed dance for Sacred Heart football games, as well as community events throughout Hattiesburg.
Olivia Drinkwater, Music Director at Sacred Heart School, believes the new team will be a chance for students to be engaged, even outside of school. “Sacred heart School continually strives to provide students with the opportunity to make positive contributions to our community. We believe that The Silver Saders will be a wonderful addition to the rich tradition of Crusader Spirit at Sacred Heart High School,” Drinkwater said.
The Silver Saders will be lead by 30 year old Rebecca Chandler, Owner, Instructor and Choreographer at Hattiesburg Ballroom & Beyond, and now the Silver Saders’ Head Coach. Chandler hopes to bring a new dynamic to Sacred Heart athletics this upcoming season. “This first year, the Silver Saders will perform at halftime at football games and make appearances at various community events and parades. As the team grows we hope to add performances and appearances to this list,” Chandler said.
The creation of a new dance element for athletics has been an idea in the making over the past several years, and took support from Sacred Heart faculty and parents alike to bring it to fruition. “Olivia Drinkwater and I have been talking about starting this team for a year or so now. We were both on dance/drill teams in high school and remember how much fun it was so we wanted to supply that for these kids at Sacred Heart.”
During the summer, Chandler and the current team members will go through two 3-day camps to learn about dance techniques, performance and create a sense of team unity, while helping re-create some of the same memories and traditions that other summer camps and dance teams can offer. “I remember camp being one of my favorite parts of being on a team so I hope that these girls can experience the same thing during our camp,” Chandler explained. “They will learn how to quickly pick up and clean choreography as well as how to perform in a stadium setting. We will cover proper make -up and hair for performance and proper posture and behavior while in uniform. I have some "happies" for them throughout the week as well as some fun team building activities,”.
Chandler has worked with Hattiesburg Ballroom & Beyond, formerly the Grand Ballroom of Hattiesburg, for 5 years, and has worked with a background in partner dance since 2005. For her, teaching has become a passion, calling and creative outlet for her and her students. “I like seeing people try something that's outside of their comfort zone and being surprised that they actually enjoy something that seemed so foreign to them,” Chandler said.
