PUTTIN' ON THE HITZ 07-08

{first written December 31, 2007}

It happened early December 2007, but I'd be remiss if I ended 2007 without praise and thanks to the kids who put on the high school remix dance show, "Puttin On The Hitz '07-08". (Also known as POTH.)

POTH is one of many Senior Class projects. Run by students, POTH is an annual variety show in December, with about 20 acts of kids dancing to remixed pop and hip-hop medleys. The music and choreography is of their own choosing.

I attended as a parent. My son was one of the show's producers, and he danced in 3 acts. I was totally clueless beforehand about the existence of POTH - and my son didn't say much... I almost didn't know to go, and showed up as a surprise to him (but the surprise was on me). I am so glad I was there.

The auditorium was packed to the gills. Auditorium capacity is somewhere around 1600-1800 seats. Plus the hallways, aisles, backstage and orchestra pit were jammed packed. Imagine 2000 high-pitched girls' screams, and booming male hoots, and the sound can lift you off your seats reading this. Every act was 5-10 minutes, set to a blaring, wall-shaking, pop-rock-hip-hop medley soundtrack. The kids acted out story themes (boy-girl interactions), sychronized group dancing, hip-hop, breakdancing, kung fu, comedy, and pure good times. With every new move came a surge of screams and cheers from the audience. Going ape-sh__ is one way to describe it. What chaos!

The first half included acts by smaller groups and clubs with an inclination to strut their stuff, say, less than 10 people each act. The second half had huge routines involving 30-plus kids each act, representing the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes, the planning committees, and student governments. Sorry! ...I haven't loaded my favorite videos online (the ones with my son). Instead please check out this link from YouTube as an example: http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=0X3EFOgIl0M (For some reason YouTube only has a couple acts from the 1st half at this time.)

I used to be active in some youth groups and personally know many of these kids and their parents, since the kids were small. I had chills running up my spine to see them today. They are bold, daring, happy, creative, and talented. I laughed out loud to see some certain dance moves coming out of these kids. Like my son's best friend jiggling his butt for a minute straight with 2 other guys, their backs facing the audience, while the girls danced around them. OMG - I wouldn't have such nerve. Clearly there's safety in numbers, and there is no stopping the power of 2000 kids. My son was joy in movement. Who taught him those moves?? I say he can get a part time job as a male dancer to get him through college (just kidding!). And don't forget that awesome drummer from the rock band Lemonface.

Then they had to voice vote for their favorite acts, and the walls came tumbling down. It was mostly a shouting contest among the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes. OK, the juniors won...

This is a high-achieving high school with 2600 kids in suburban DC. This year it's the top-scoring public high school for S.A.T. scores in the county, and transitively the state. Recognized in the Top-20 nationally for academic challenges and AP testing. Recognized nationally in the Top-10 for music. These poor kids face stiff academic and extracurricular competition and expectations.

The Senior Class raised about $8000, give or take, from the sale of $5 admission tickets, $15 T-shirts, and baked goods. That money helps sponsor the senior prom among other things.

I'm so glad some would pause from their busy structured student life to blow off some steam. These kids are an inspirational example to me. Their youth, their daring, energy, friendships, fun, team work and happiness. I thank them for showing me their perspectives - which I think was to have a good time.