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Liberty High School Dance Program
Topics: Education
Posted by magic Mon Apr 28, 2008 09:07:21 PDT
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Dance like there's no tomorrow almost meant dance like there's no next year for students in the Liberty High School dance program. Thanks to a last minute reprieve, this course is no longer a victim of the Kern High School Districts budget cuts, although it will be a slimmer version from five classes to two. A popular program at Liberty for eight years it has progressed from a classroom to where desks were moved aside, to the cafeteria where tables were moved, to the wrestling room, and finally, into a double wide portable trailer.

Sounds of African, hip-hop, jazz, tap, lyrical and ballet rip and flow from the dance floor as students work on their routines under the direction of Ruth Saldubehere. Once a biology teacher, Ruth was recruited to begin a dance program at Liberty High School, becoming one of the best in Kern County. No stranger to dance herself, Ruth danced in high school and college and has long been associated with Civic Dance Center, notably with the annual production of The Nutcracker. 

Since Ruth can’t be in all classes at once she found local talent to assist her with the classes.  Developing a strong cadre of teachers experienced in the various dance forms taught in the program, one of her favorite teachers has been her daughter, Lauren Saldubehere, now a senior at UC Irvine majoring in dance.

Instead of finding desks inside the classroom there are full-length mirrors and ballet bars. Fund raising by the students helped to make these purchases, which are important tools to teaching dance as an overhead projector, or an erase board is to teaching math.

All students, beginner to advanced, perform in the annual recital. Beginning in January auditions are held for the featured roles in this highly anticipated performance. Polishing choreography, designing costumes, selecting music, setting staging and lighting are part of the effort from students and teachers to present the best show possible. Once its show time all of the rehearsals, hard work, and sweat have evaporated into a rhythmical expressive movement that entertains and engages the appreciative audience.

At Liberty High School dance students found a way to express their selves and to develop confidence through stage performance. For Saldubehere, it has been a chance to express her love of the art to the students she loves. And thanks to LHS principal, Pat Preston, the curtain won’t be coming down on this program, so students don’t hang up your dance shoes.

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