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Donna Perrin and MUHS Dance Team Gear Up for A New Season

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Tuesday December 20, 2011

By Marcie Bolton

Donna Perrin and MUHS Dance Team Gear Up for A New Season “My job is fantastic!” Donna Perrin exclaims, as she talks about being the head dance coach at Middlebury Union High School.

“The girls give 110%, and they are extremely motivated.  I could not ask for more from them.”  Donna Perrin is speaking about coaching her team of 18 dancers at Middlebury Union High School, which she has done for the past 5 years.  With inspired dancers like that, it is easy to understand the joy of working with this team.  They give their all and Donna, in return, guides them with her love of dance and pure enjoyment of the job.  Donna did take classes when she was younger, and she has always loved dancing - but the real turning point for her was when her youngest daughter Leslie started dancing in 2nd grade.  From that moment on Donna became much more focused on dance and all of the components that it embodies; and it became a passion for thirteen years.  

On a typical day she starts each practice with warm ups and stretches and then it is directly into the dance moves.  Repetition is Donnas’ key to getting the most from her dancers.  She also likes keeping the dances fresh and innovative – particularly in working with high school students.  Tweaking the dances and adding new pieces, and also listening to dancers’ input, are all integral components for sequencing together a final number.  The team has won two Vermont state championships (2008 and 2010), in the hip hop category.  Hip Hop dance, a form with urban roots that began in the 70’s, is typically a younger person’s style of dance.  It has undertones of toughness and in my mind, provokes images of spinning, popping, and sharp angles - all with speed and agility.   The moves are performed by a large group at once, in-sync and crisp.

If you want to see some stellar dance moves there are four competitions for the 2011-2012 season, all which take place in January and February.  Until they compete at their first show, at Mt. Anthony on January 7th at 1pm, you know they all will be practicing and working on their moves to get them just… right.  

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