The National Association of University Women-Grambling held a dance workshop Saturday, teaching area youngsters dances they are likely to encounter in social settings.
Parents and NAUW members looked on as the students, who ranged in age from 3 to 18, were shown the fundamentals of the waltz, two-step, cha-cha, jitterbug, and even the bunny hop.
Diana Maroney-Grigsby, director of the Orchesis Dance Troupe at Grambling State, served as instructor. The two-hour event was held in the Women’s Gym.
"It was great," said Shemire Brown, a kindergartner at Alma J. Brown Elementary School, who said she particularly liked learning the bunny hop and the twist.
Her sister agreed. "We learned to do the bunny hop, and we did the jazz thing," said Shemerik Brown, a second-grader at Alma J. Brown.She also commended the dance teacher. "Her movements when she was dancing were just so great," she said of Maroney-Grigsby.
Dr. Patricia Garrison, organizer of the event, said the workshop was meant to expose young people to new social settings with the intent to make them more comfortable in certain situations.
"The overall purpose is to enhance etiquette skills and to allow youth to learn old classic dances," she said.
The dance class was the second community service event sponsored by NAUW-Grambling within the past few weeks. An etiquette workshop, attended by 50 to 60 students, was held March 25 at the Fellowship Hall of Zion Traveler Baptist Church in Ruston. Ages of participants ranged from 10 to 18.
NAUW-Grambling just ended its annual Verdure Green Campaign, which helps young people and their parents raise money toward a college education.
An awards ceremony, which will recognize all students who participated in NAUW activities this year, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 6 in Room 100 of Washington-Johnson Complex.
For more information, call Dr. Garrison at 247-0093 or Dr. June Ingram at 274-2896 or 247-8598.