The waltz makes a comeback at Palloti High

The waltz bears about as much resemblance to the dances done in Belizean clubs as a tuxedo does to a baggy shirt and sagging jeans. And that’s just the point of the latest fundraising event for Palloti High: something dignified and different. Janelle Chanona reports from the dance floor.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
On Saturday night, twenty-two couples from Belize City and Belmopan will take centre stage in the second annual Palloti Waltz competition.

Under the tutelage of professional dancers Chris and Karen Chaleki, the young competitors have endured weeks of intense practice sessions. But as evidenced by a dress rehearsal on Monday evening, their dedication has paid off.

Chris Chaleki, Dance Instructor
“These kids, the way they are dancing right, you are going to see something you don’t normally see here, which is young men being gracious gentlemen to their partners and young ladies acting like young ladies. What you are going to see is a level of dancing from these kids that you are just going to go, wow! I didn’t know that kids could dance in a respectable, humane way.”

Dancers will waltz, foxtrot, and tango across the stage, but the Latin favourites like the samba, cha-cha, and paso doble are expected to be crowd pleasers.

Irma Skeen, Organiser
“You know, there is a lot of other type of dancing, this would be very unique. So last year we had it and it was very good and this year we, hopefully by next year we’ll try to promote it to more high schools so we can have it much bigger.”

According to organiser Irma Skeen, the event seeks to emphasise the fun in fundraiser.

Irma Skeen
“I’ve learnt a lot, but I do not get out there but I try to remember a lot so that when the dance instructors, Mr. and Mrs. Chaleki leaves, because they give us one hour per week and when they leave, we practice every day and I just keep reminding them of the steps that we have been taught. … It’s fun to watch them because this will come in handy, I guess at their graduation or prom or something like that.”

Amauri Amoa
“Andrew and I, we’re at S.J.C. I’m actually a teacher, he’s a student.”

Second year competitors Andrew Gillett and Amauri Amoa have enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the international dances.

Amauri Amoa, Teacher
“Sometimes it appears that the dancer is like bending way back, but you realize that they are using their sternum to make those different illusions. So it gets really interesting after a while. So I like it for both reasons, it’s a great way to de-stress, just overall fun, and I enjoy dancing, all different types, so this is just another way.”

Andrew Gillett, Student
“The challenging part was actually getting the time done and get the children ready for the dancing that was happening.”

Janelle Chanona
“Now I notice when you’re dancing you’re [biting lip] you really concentrating hard right?”

Andrew Gillett
“Well that’s just nervousness, it comes with the dancing and stuff, but it goes away after a while when you get into the dancing. The nervousness goes away and you just have fun afterwards.”

For Salim Hoy and Inga Woods, dancing together is all about trust.

Salim Hoy, Student
“I’m the leader and she’s the follower. Once she trusts in me everything will go okay, but if she wants to do what—if she doesn’t trust me, something might go wrong. I trip.”

Inga Woods, Student
“He might step on my foot.”

Janelle Chanona
“That’s the big danger right?”

Inga Woods
“Stepping on the foot, I would get hurt.”

Janelle Chanona
“The competition is on Saturday, do you trust him yet?”

Inga Woods
“I think I should now.”

Proceeds of the Waltz competition, Dinner and Dance will aid the Palloti Building Fund.

Chris Chaleki
“The best thing is to come out and support this kind of dancing, because these kids are hungry for it. We have seen tremendous amounts of support from the kids and their parents, now all we need to do is get the rest of the community to come out and support them as well.”

Dinner will be served at six with the dancing set to start at seven at Holy Redeemer Parish Hall. Tickets are thirty dollars a person. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.

For ticket information, please contact Irma Skeen at 664-3296 or Palloti High School at 224-4886.