Going for ballroom glory

GRANITE FALLS — Spanish teacher Josh Roehl switches gears at the end of the regular school day at Granite Falls High School, because it “takes a couple minutes to just get in the zone.”

That’s what’s needed to teach ballroom dance.

“It’s a different energy that

you need to teach dance, so it’s just a brief gathering of my thoughts, and going through what I plan to instruct for that day,” he said.

Roehl changed his shoes, filled up a water bottle and grabbed a CD with the music and a boom box on Tuesday before the competitive ballroom dance team’s practice. He met with a group of students eager to learn the next part of their ballroom dance routine in the school’s gymnasium.

Senior Mikey Hoffman, 17, said he didn’t think he would make the school’s ballroom dance team but he’s glad he did. When Roehl asked students if they wanted to start the routine from the top Tuesday, Hoffman was the first to loudly respond, “From the top.”

“I love it,” he said. “Mr. Roehl has shown us YouTube videos (of different competitive dances) and they’re really cool so I’m hoping we can look like that in a month.”

Roehl started a ballroom dance club in September at the school, and about 35 students meet twice a week for an hour. Roehl instructs a new dance every month, including the cha cha, Lindy hop, waltz, West Coast and East Coast swing, and the rumba.

Roehl, who graduated from Brigham Young University Idaho in April 2009 with a degree in Spanish and a minor in ballroom dance, competed and taught ballroom dancing teams for more than four years in Idaho. After forming the club at Granite Falls High School, Roehl held tryouts in December to choose students to be part of a competitive ballroom dance team. The 12 students who made the team plan to compete at the Gem State Amateur Ballroom Dance competition Feb. 25-26 in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Roehl said he has called different high schools and ballroom studios in the state but has yet to find another competitive ballroom dance team made up of high school students.

“I’m aware of other schools with a swing club or a salsa club but this is really the first ballroom competition team in the state of Washington that I’m aware of,” he said.

Approximately 30 students tried out for the team, Roehl said. The students started practicing a competitive Lindy Hop and West Coast swing dance routine Jan. 3. They practice for up to two hours every day after school, Roehl said. So far, his team has learned about 30 seconds of the three-and-a-half-minute routine.

“These kids are troupers,” Roehl said. “They know they are going to be eating, sleeping, dancing ballroom for the next couple of months.”

The routine to “All for One” from the High School Musical 2 soundtrack is full of fast-paced twists, turns and twirls. It can be challenging at first to put new moves together, said Becky Gilbertson, 16.

“Then you kind of just get into it and it comes to you,” she said. “You have to trust your partner.”

Gilbertson, a junior, said she just wanted to try being part of the club but discovered that she enjoys dancing. Her dancing partner for the group routine, Darryl Webb, 15, started going to the club practices because he thought dancing sounded like fun. He found out dancing also helps in another way.

“I play football so I find (dance) to be good exercise,” he said. “It’s difficult. It’s a good way to express yourself.”

Gilbertson said she hopes the team leaves its mark at its first competition.

“Idaho is a big thing,” she said. “We’re first in the state to have a ballroom team and we’re making a statement to the world that yes, Granite Falls is small, but there’s also real good kids here.”

Help the team

The Granite Falls High School competitive ballroom dance team is planning a benefit night from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the High School Commons at 1401 100th St. NE. Those who attend can meet the team and receive a free dance lesson from Granite Falls High School teacher and ballroom instructor Josh Roehl.

Donations to help the team compete at the Gem State Amateur Ballroom Dance competition on Feb. 25-26 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, will be accepted.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.