Dancing with the Stars contestants learn their routines in only a few weeks. (Photo courtesy Anna Bay)

Can a high school ballroom dancer teach the girls tennis team captain or a member of student government to dance? This year’s Dancing with the Stars event proved it is possible. Just like its namesake TV show, members of Copper Hills High School’s ballroom dance team were paired with students from various school teams and clubs who had little to no dance experience. Partners had a few weeks to learn the student choreographer’s routine before performing for an audience of peers and family members, who voted for their favorite couple.

Junior Class President Diego Valdez, who has almost no dance experience, learned both salsa and samba steps and gained an appreciation for how hard ballroom dancers work. He exceeded the expectations of his dance partner Jade Meza and his choreographer Gabriel Brown.

A student choreographer works with a ballroom team member and a student representing a school team or club to create an impressive routine. (Photo courtesy Anna Bay)

“We taught him some basic choreography and steps, and we began realizing that he picks up choreography super well,” Brown said. “So we were able to kind of shift our original, really basic choreography to something a little more advanced, because we feel like he can handle it. He's shown us over and over that he can do these cool things that we're throwing at him, so we've just been giving him a couple more to make the performance just a little bit better.”

Parson Duncan, representing the boys lacrosse team, said being a part of the competition was an eye-opening experience. “I thought I was really bad at dancing before, so I'm just surprised that I can do any of it,” he said. 

Brooklyn Potter felt pressure to represent the girls tennis team well. “I want to do my tennis team proud,” she said. “I want to show them that their captain can do a lot.” Her choreographer, sophomore Zoey Hoyal, who is also on the tennis team, utilized Potter’s strengths in the routine she created.

Dancing with the Stars, in which students are taught a dance to perform with a member of the ballroom team, is Copper Hills High School ballroom team’s annual fundraiser. (Photo courtesy Anna Bay)

“I did a lot of fast foot work, because in tennis we do a lot of foot drills, so it was a lot easier for her to do like, a Jive or a swing, because it's pretty quick on your feet,” Hoyal said.

Dancing With the Stars also gave students an opportunity to make connections in different social circles. “Its just a really nice way to introduce people to dance and then to become friends with someone from a completely different thing than what you're used to,” ballroom dancer/choreographer Kaydence Maneotis said. “Because I would probably just make friends with dancers, but now I'm making friends with an SBO, so that’s pretty cool.”

Participants said the event is unifying for the student body because it brings together people from all different teams and clubs to support each other and gain appreciation for each other’s skills. They also get an opportunity to compete against dancers from other area high schools, such as Mountain Ridge High School, who hold similar events. The top couples will perform Dec. 18 at Copper Hills High School.

Dancing with the Stars is a favorite CHHS school tradition and successful fundraiser for the ballroom dance team. But it can also change lives. A student who learned to dance as a star in last year’s competition enjoyed the experience so much, he joined the ballroom team this year.