By TESA STRASSER

The Press-News

The students and staff at Walker Elementary danced their way into Memorial Day weekend. During an end-of-the-day assembly on Friday, May 23, the students were treated to a Canton Local version of Dancing with the Stars. Five staff couples presented professionally-taught dances that got the kids stomping and clapping.

The couples were Principal Gay Welker and her husband Faircrest Principal Tim Welker, Shirley Douglas and Assistant Principal Chris Noll, Jennifer Kruger and Dan Lawver, Ruth Eibel and Keith Long and Angela Feller and Jim Laughlin. Except for the noted administrators, all dancers were teachers at the school. The numbers were taught by Shelia Witlock, a dance instructor in the area.

Earlier this year, the fifth-grade classes studied a unit on swing dance in music class. During that unit, they learned basic swing steps and then had a competition. The winners of that competition were announced, and they performed their original dances to "One O'clock Boogie." Those students were Brooke Milhoan and Kole Ickes, Andrea Long and Andrew Scarpino, Zoe Jackson and Nate Stokes, Amber Millard and Maxx Bowman, Kayla Gearhart and Mike Montgomery and Kaylee Nutter and James Mayle.

To round out the fun assembly, a team of eight teachers performed a rousing dance to a medley called "Evolution of Dance II." Steph Welker's solo to "Kung Fu Fighting" brought roars of laughter. They covered quite a variety of music ranging from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to "We're all in this Together."

That group of brave gals included Kelly Hall, Stephanie Welker, Debbie Davidson, Sheila Doerschuk, Allison Ridenbaugh, Lynne Hershberger, Terri Bradshaw and Terrie Crilow.