Forest Park Dance Team holds “Family and Friends” performance

The 2nd annual “family and friends” performance of the Forest Park Dance Team was held Tuesday night in the Woody Buechler Sports arena on the campus of Forest Park Junior and Senior High School.

Several hundred friends and family watched as the high school and junior high dance team performed their routines in advance of competition that starts this weekend.

Denise Heilers is the head of the program and she said the event was important. “I am so excited to get our competition routines out here on the floor,” she explained, “and to get so many people to come and see us tonight that can’t come to our competitions because they are quite far away.”

Heilers says that their schedule is extremely busy the next few weeks.The group will be competing again this weekend and every weekend in February they will be competing. March 10 is the State Finals and the group is practicing four days a week. “It’s a very rigorous practice schedule if not performance schedule as well.” Heilers said.

Also at the performance last night was Southeast Schools Superintendent Rick Allen. He stated it takes all the activities to build the children. “When they grow and mature by participating in activities all they do is better in school.” Allen said. “So we are really proud of them.”

Allen also stated there are new evaluation standards coming down from the state, but the school district is looking at the core standards for K-12. “Our principals are doing a fantastic job. We are discussing  that [the changes] with our teachers.” Allen explained. “There’s a lot on our plate, there’s a lot going on.”