Goochland High School’s Dance Company is rehearsing their moves for an eight-minute production number at half-time at the Orange Bowl.

Fourteen of the 18 members of the advanced dance class, taught by Melissa Black, will be making the trip, spending five days in Miami in preparation for the performance January 5.

They’ll join hundreds of other dancers performing to a medley of songs by Kool and the Gang, including numbers like “Jungle Boogie” and “Get Down to It.”

Last week found them hard at work in the auditorium of GHS, since they had just received from choreographer Chris Judd the moves they needed to learn for the show.

“It’s like a work trip,” said Black. “We’ll be dancing everyday from morning to night.”

Black said the group was invited more than a year ago, when a Bowl Games of America representative called and said they had been referred.

“It’s not necessarily that we are better than other groups, just that we got referred,” explained Black.

Regardless of the selection process, dancing at the Orange Bowl is a big deal.

The trip also includes a two-day dance convention for the class.

“We’ve never done anything this involved,” said Black. The group has traveled before, but usually for competitions or classes.

“I’ve never been involved in a production this size,” said Black, who has taught dance at GHS for the last 10 years, in addition to serving as the athletic trainer.

“It’s an experience the dancers will remember forever.”

Black said the students have been working hard since March to raise money for this trip. In addition to hours on hours of rehearsal, they will be taking classes with world-famous choreographers at a two-day dance convention.

Several of the members of the class also discussed the upcoming trip.

Junior Amber Robinson has been dancing since she was six years old.

“I think it’s very exciting. You don’t get too many opportunities like this,” she said.

One factor in the trip is the cost – it’s not cheap. Each member of the group had to raise about $1,200 to cover expenses.

Robinson said she sold calendars, worked with the Mr. Goochland Contest and sold plate dinners she cooked at home. Donations from area churches and individuals also helped her in reaching her fund-raising goal.

Senior Laura Meadows said she has already been on two Dance Company trips.

“We’ll be rehearsing from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” she said of the three days they will be in Miami before game day.

“We’ve never been under this kind of crunch time, but if we really buckle down we can learn it,” she said.

“I can’t believe we’re doing it,” said senior Yonteen Kenney, who has been with Dance Company for three years.

Kenney said she was excited to learn that they would be dancing to Kool and the Gang. “I love 80s music,” she said. “Everyone will be working hard.”

Kenney praised the Dance Company teacher. “Mrs. Black is awesome,” said Kenney. “She has a lot on her plate.”

Photo by Ken Odor
Goochland High School’s Dance Company will perform in the Orange Bowl January 5. Above, Yonteen Kenney leads a group of the dancers in rehearsal.