The 5th and 8th graders of Bethlehem Lutheran School once again wrapped up a fabulous unit of ballroom dancing with a much anticipated spring ball. On the evening of April 25th, parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles were welcomed and treated to a night of fun and fantastic footwork.

Mothers had the opportunity to dance with their sons, and fathers danced with their daughters. Alex Perez (8th grader) had this to say, "This dance was extremely family-oriented." Fellow 8th grader Timorae Mawhir added, "It was really fun to dance with my dad because he didn't know how, and it was cool to teach him."

Local dance professional Chris Lenhart provided the dance instructions, and his expertise equipped the students with the confidence to execute the most intricate maneuvers.

Chris Derloshon stated, "Mr. L was a fantastic young dancer who taught us all the correct moves, and it felt like he taught us personally even though we were a large group."

To ensure a wonderful experience for all dancers, 5th grade teacher Martha Hischke and 8th grade teacher Diane Hollenbeck had the students fill out dance cards which gave the kids a chance to practice asking nicely and kindly accepting the invitation to dance.

"I liked how no one was left out, and I got to dance with a lot of guys that I may not have chosen on my own. I got to know them and have fun with them," stated 8th grader Emily Yetzbacher, reacting to the dance card usage.

As this year's theme was "A Secret Garden," twinkling lights and beautiful foliage adorned Bethlehem's gymnasium and added to the ambience. Young and old alike enjoyed the evening. Like both years previous, the only complaint was how quickly the evening passed.

Ryan Higgs summed it up, "It [the dance] was way cooler than I thought it was going to be."