Don’t Stop Believin’ – Communities come together for student dances
Bridgetown, Annapolis Royal events organized with passion by youth and parents
The night of Thursday, Feb. 23 may have seemed dark and cold to some, but to high school students in Bridgetown, it was a much needed night of music, dancing, and liveliness, as they gathered together for the first time in months at the Bridgetown Legion for a dance.
Due to work-to-rule strike action by teachers, regularly scheduled dances at Bridgetown Regional High School could not be held. The idea for the town to host a community dance instead came from Angela Clark, key organizer of the Feb. 23 event. Clark has a daughter in Grade 7 at BRHS, who was disappointed that getting a dress, and going to a dance with her friends would seemingly not be a possibility this winter. Angela had faith, however, that the community could come together to make something happen.
Lot’s of support came from Facebook, as students and their parents alike volunteered to help. A group was made, and a venue donated. Angela Clark’s son Nick Clark offered to DJ the event.
Free Admission
Since both the venue and the DJ came at no expense, dance organizers were able to make admission free for the students. Refreshments were available for purchase as well, with parents like Jennifer Lawrence and Sabrina Osborne volunteering their time to sell them. Other members of the community checked students’ coats, chaperoned, or minded the door - like Angela’s husband Ted Clarke.
When asked why he was helping that night, Ted pointed at his wife and joked, “She made me do it!” His real motivations, however, had to do with his kids, and students like them.
“All kids need a release. You can’t go to school 24/7 and not do anything. You need some activities that are fun,” Ted said.
Bridgetown’s community dance isn’t the only of its kind, however. On Jan. 27 a teen dance was held for students in the ARRA gymnasium in Annapolis Royal. This dance was thought of and organized by student Zeynep Tonak, head of the Dance Committee at Annapolis West Education Centre.
Town Helps
“I had been in the middle of planning our winter semi formal when having a dance at school became no longer an option,” said Tonak. “Our town’s newly elected mayor had already expressed interest in having a relationship with youth in the community, so I reached out to ask for support in organizing the event.”
Along with the help of Noah
Feels Good
“It feels really good, because it shows that the people in the community care about how the kids feel, and what they like to do,” said student Courtney Veinott, demonstrating support and care the community has for its students wasn’t lost on them, and it was appreciated.
At Bridgetown’s dance, students let loose after a long exam season. Excitement was in abundance, even more so when certain songs came on. Students took to singing out the lyrics of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ by Journey with spirit when it was played. Underlying all of the night’s festivities was the prominent feeling of community coming together - and having a little fun in the middle of a very long winter.