The Silver Spurs clamber off the bus at one of the many elementary schools they would be visiting that day, to spread some holiday cheer by dancing. The girls all sport festive holiday dresses, carrying presents and hot chocolate props.
Children shuffle excitedly into the colorful gym at Mary Jo Sheppard, hands behind their backs, in single file lines. Little voices whisper and point to “Santa” and the dancers.
“Do you think that’s really Santa?” a third grader asks as she cranes her neck to get a better look.
As soon as the children are seated, Mrs. Parlin, the Silver Spurs drill team coach, takes the microphone and announces that the first dance will be to a song from Radio City Musical. The girls begin their dance and their velvet red dresses, with white feather-boa trim, bounce around them.
An eruption of “wow” escapes the elementary students when the Silver Spurs begin high kicks and as the girls prance off at the end of the dance, excited chattering fills the gym.
As the rookie Silver Spurs get ready to perform their first dance, Mrs. Parlin asks the Mary Jo Students what it means to be a rookie.
“They’re, um, a little bit new,” a first grader in the front row said.
“They don’t know how to dance,” another boy chimed in.
…
After arriving at the fourth school, Alice Ponder, the varsity girls begin their routine to “Last Christmas” by throwing handfuls of glitter, much to the delight of the children. Their faces light up and a ripple of “ahhhh” escapes the first few rows.
“They look like Mrs. Clause” a kindergartener said, as a smile built up in her cheeks.
…
Following their third school, the Silver Spurs went for a short lunch break at Chilis and then skipped back to the busses to continue their day. At each school, the students make their way to the gyms, bubbles in their mouths as they sit on their pockets.
The students burst into song when “Feliz Navidad” plays and they watch the girls dance, smiles and looks of wonder on their faces.
At the end of the day, the dancers and “Santa” packed up their things, all the while talking about how cute the elementary students were and what a great day they’d had.
