2008 Woodie Awards
As Seen On TV
Dancing with the Staff and Faculty
Stacey Walz
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Culture
Have you ever seen the Western faculty and staff dance? Outside of dance classes, probably not. Soon you will have an opportunity to witness this rare phenomenon. The New Orleans Alternative Break team is providing this opportunity on Monday, Feb. 25 with their fundraising event "Dancing with the Staff."
Some of you may have watched ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" television program during fall term. Students Stephanie Gilbert and Emily Hess are the event and Alternative Break trip coordinators. They put on the "Alternative Idol" event last term, in which everything functioned like "American Idol." Gilbert explains that "our goal is to do the same thing with 'Dancing with the Stars' . . we're pretty good at mocking TV shows." This event will function almost exactly like the show, with few variations.
Students will have 15 minutes beforehand to teach their staff or faculty partner the dance. The dance style and song is up to the students. "There's a guy who's going to teach his faculty or staff member a swing dance," commented Gilbert; "We're not going to give them something totally off the wall and say: 'Dance!'"
Gilbert is "very curious to see what the students will teach the staff," and Hess looks forward to seeing "how well the professors can dance after learning it over a short period of time."
Student Alex Ellis, who played Ryan Seacrest during "Alternative Idol," will act as host for the event. The judges panel will be made up of three staff members, but the audience has the real power in selecting the winner.
During the performances, donation jars will be passed around the audience, one for every dancing pair. People can place their donations in the jars or they can donate at the back of the Pacific Room. The pair that receives the most money wins. There is no admission fee in hopes that students will donate more.
All money raised will support the New Orleans Alternative Break team for their Spring Break trip. There are ten students on the team, and they need to raise about $4000 in only five weeks. "Alternative Idol" raised about $650, and Gilbert and Hess are optimistic that "Dancing with the Staff" will meet or exceed that amount.
More dancing students, staff and faculty members are needed. There is no limit to how many pairs can participate; Gilbert and Hess want "as many as [they] can get." The deadline to sign up is open till the event begins.
Six people have signed up already: three students, two professors and one staff member, as of Feb. 8.
"We need some more people," reiterate the coordinators.
Some of you may have watched ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" television program during fall term. Students Stephanie Gilbert and Emily Hess are the event and Alternative Break trip coordinators. They put on the "Alternative Idol" event last term, in which everything functioned like "American Idol." Gilbert explains that "our goal is to do the same thing with 'Dancing with the Stars' . . we're pretty good at mocking TV shows." This event will function almost exactly like the show, with few variations.
Students will have 15 minutes beforehand to teach their staff or faculty partner the dance. The dance style and song is up to the students. "There's a guy who's going to teach his faculty or staff member a swing dance," commented Gilbert; "We're not going to give them something totally off the wall and say: 'Dance!'"
Gilbert is "very curious to see what the students will teach the staff," and Hess looks forward to seeing "how well the professors can dance after learning it over a short period of time."
Student Alex Ellis, who played Ryan Seacrest during "Alternative Idol," will act as host for the event. The judges panel will be made up of three staff members, but the audience has the real power in selecting the winner.
During the performances, donation jars will be passed around the audience, one for every dancing pair. People can place their donations in the jars or they can donate at the back of the Pacific Room. The pair that receives the most money wins. There is no admission fee in hopes that students will donate more.
All money raised will support the New Orleans Alternative Break team for their Spring Break trip. There are ten students on the team, and they need to raise about $4000 in only five weeks. "Alternative Idol" raised about $650, and Gilbert and Hess are optimistic that "Dancing with the Staff" will meet or exceed that amount.
More dancing students, staff and faculty members are needed. There is no limit to how many pairs can participate; Gilbert and Hess want "as many as [they] can get." The deadline to sign up is open till the event begins.
Six people have signed up already: three students, two professors and one staff member, as of Feb. 8.
"We need some more people," reiterate the coordinators.
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