Edgewood High School has been selected as one of only three Maryland schools to be a part of the National Broadcast of the “Let’s Move!” Flash Mob – a coordinated, yet semi-spontaneous outburst of song and dance, which has earned the students a visit from the Baltimore Raven’s cheerleaders and a spot on television Tuesday afternoon.
“Let’s Move!” is an initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama to help solve the childhood obesity epidemic in America, which got a boost from Grammy-award winning singer Beyonce – who reworked one of her songs and created a dance workout routine for children. The video and routine have been a hit nationwide and on Tuesday, while students from select schools across the country are performing their routines in front of television cameras, Beyonce will make a surprise visit with one group – perhaps even Edgewood High School.
“One of the great things about this project was creating the video entry. I simply asked the kids, ‘Why should EHS be chosen to be a part of the live broadcast?’ Hearing the students’ candid, off the cuff responses was really inspiring. We didn’t do much editing–the kids just spoke from the heart. I only had an hour to put together the video, so I couldn’t include all the responses, but some of the students said they wanted to make a positive difference in their community, they wanted to improve the reputation of Edgewood and show everyone how much they loved dance, what really good kids they are – despite what people say when they first hear…’you go to Edgewood?’ The students are so enthused!,” said Kelly Christ, Edgewood High School dance teacher and journalism adviser.
Here is the video Christ and the students at Edgewood High School created, which led to their television appearance on Tuesday:
Christ said Edgewood High School offers Dance as an art elective and most of the students dancing Tuesday will be enrolled in the dance class, but several others have learned the dance and will be performing in the cafteria.
“Many classes will be in the cafeteria to cheer us on as part of the Flash Mob audience. Others in the school will watch it either live on TVs in their classrooms on via the live broadcast on the Internet,” she added.
While dance is offered in most Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel County high schools, Christ said Edgewood High School is one of only two schools in Harford County that currently offer dance as an art elective. Aberdeen High School also has a dance program.
The students at Edgewood seem to have embraced the program.
“We are excited to be broadcasting in our brand new building. Earlier in the year, October, actually, the dancers at EHS performed a Flash Mob of our own – we invaded the cafeteria during lunch dressed as zombies and performed Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for the student body,” she added.
The WBAL-TV 11 news crew and Baltimore Raven’s cheerleaders will be at Edgewood High School at 1:42 p.m. on Tuesday to film the students dancing.
For those interested in learning the dance, the tutorial video is available at http://www.nabef.org/letsmove/educator_resources_video.asp
RAMS Pride to the Core says
Way to go, EHS! Show that RAMS PRIDE in everything you do! So impressed by you!
Ron Chapman says
Great Job Guys!
Kelly Christ says
http://www.wbaltv.com/education/27763484/detail.html
kimberly roberts says
My school is on tv go wich it now…
Alissa Thomas says
http://www.wbaltv.com/video/27784231/detail.html
Sarah Caldwell did an additional segment on Edgewood High School last night.