North View Middle School dance team grows in numbers and opportunities

In its first three years, the North View Middle School (NVMS) dance team has grown from a group of around 10 participants to nearly 70 students today. 

The dance team includes both a dance elective class during the school day and an after-school club that meets at least once per week. The dancers focus on ballet, tap, hip hop and jazz, with the program led by teacher Andrea Gross. 

Over the past six months, the team has taken two field trips to professional ballet performances, participated in a dance clinic, performed during the school’s March Madness event and at the Minnesota Lynx game versus the Chicago Sky, along with an end-of-the-year recital May 22. 

“I’ve had a passion for dance ever since I was little,” eighth grade student Si’yah Hunter said. “It’s something I want to do more in the future as well.” 

“The dance team is really fun, and it’s for all abilities and levels of seriousness about dance,” said student Fatima Swaray. “It’s for both boys and girls.”

Meeting new friends and making more connections among the school community were other benefits dancers liked about being on the team, along with pushing beyond their comfort zone and to learning to use dance as a mood-booster. 

“This work Ms. Gross leads and the tremendous accomplishments of our dancers deserves mention,” said fellow NVMS teacher Tori Nagy. “She has grown our dance programs significantly and made incredible opportunities for the dancers.”