Medfield High School to Host Ballroom Dance Showcase

Karen Renaud's ballroom dance students at Medfield High School will be turning the cafeteria into a performance hall on Sunday, Jan. 29 as they put their dancing skills and talents on display in the school's Ballroom Dance Showcase.

"My ballroom dance students will do a full group performance of Waltz, Tango, and Hustle and they will also be performing in small groups: Triple time swing, Salsa, Rumba, Foxtrot, and Cha Cha," Renaud said. "It's exciting to put this kind of show on for the very first time."

The show comes a little over a month after the high school wellness program participated in the . Renaud said in addition to having Medfield students perform, she is also excited for the two guest performances to participate in the showcase.

"The first will be Samantha Varnerin and Christian Lecorps," Renaud said. "They are students at WPI and members of the ballroom dance program there. Samantha is the president. Even more exciting is having Michael Creeden and Jessica Spink perform for us. They are professional dancers currently competing around the country.

"They went professional just over a year ago and have already achieved sixth, fourth, second, and first place finishes in various Professional Rising Star American Smooth Competitions in the U.S. They should thrill our audience."

After the showcase, all students will be invited to stay until 3 p.m. for a Ballroom Social Dance, according to Renaud.

"My students will make themselves available as partners to dance with other students," Renaud said. "No experience or partner is necessary, it is just an opportunity for the kids to experience this kind of dancing. We will teach them a couple of steps along the way and hopefully the kids will enjoy themselves trying something new."

The Showcase begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29 and runs through 3 p.m., concluding with the Ballroom Social Dance. Cost of admission is $5 for students and $7 for adults. Tickets go on sale next week at the high school.