Forest Road Elementary School students learn square dancing

Students from kindergarten through sixth grade at Forest Road Elementary School got the chance to bust a move as square dancing expert Pat Cannon paid a visit to provide some lessons from Oct. 17 through 20.

Cannon, founder of Pat Cannon’s Foot & Fiddle Dance Company, has been teaching the art of dancing in schools for 30 years. Her lessons not only put an emphasis on dance instruction, but they provide historical education of the cultural influence immigration has had on American dance and music. Cannon taught the students step-by-step dance moves, splitting them up into pairs while also explaining the cultural significance behind the dances.

The event was a part of Valley Stream District 30’s “Let’s Move” initiative, which encourages children to stay active and learn the nuances of different dance styles. On Oct. 19, Joanna Eckert’s class of 18 second-graders had their opportunity to learn square dancing and showcase their moves during their physical education period. It was a morning full of smiles and laughter from the students, who appeared very eager to learn. Cannon kicked off the morning by performing on her banjo and then took a step-by-step approach of teaching the children various moves, putting it all together at the end.

“I was very proud of the compliments her students received from Ms. Cannon,” Principal Erin Malone said of Eckert’s class. “The Let’s Move initiative in Valley Stream District 30 has placed an emphasis on kinesthetic learning and active engagement. Teachers were thrilled to see such a high level of commitment and cooperation from their students in learning something new."