Share more on the dance floor

Neha Simon

Dance Teacher Lori Graham shares her love for dance with students all over the West Coast

Dance teacher and choreographer Lori Graham has been teaching since math teachers Mr.Dong and Ms.Williams were students at MVHS, yet somehow shakes her behind better than most of todays’ students. But her skills don’t stop at MVHS; Graham choreographs routines for teams all along the West Coast – teaching them how to groove Graham-style.

Ever since she was ten years old, dance has been a dominant part of Graham’s life. She started off in jazz and then moved her way towards hip hop and tap. Then she joined the MVHS Dance Team…then Cheer…then Song. After taking a long break from her dancing career during college, she had a coincidental run-in with the former vice-principal of MVHS, and landed a job at here to restart the dance program.She was previously the coach of the Dance Team, but now settles for choreographing a few of their routines and filling in for the Song Team coach during their practices. In addition, she judges for several competitions MVHS Dance Team participates in. “Lori really helps us with technique and is a great inspiration,” varsity Song member sophomore Jemimah Chan said. “We learn a lot from her. It’s really great having her here.”Members of Dance Team also explain how she has been training them arduously with her various conditioning routines that keep the dancers in shape and ready for competition. But despite the hard hours put in to training the girls, she has kept her passion of dance alive and strong throughout the years.“Dance helps me forget everything and lets me escape into another world. Even if it’s just for ten minutes.” Graham said. She is now bringing

Lori Graham teaches fellow P.E. teacher Julie Sullivan how to perform a pirouette. Photo by Neha Simon.

that mentality to students in her PE Dance class and dance teams from other parts of California.

As part of a half-time job with the dance company USA, she gets flown to various schools to choreograph a routine for an upcoming competition. She is chosen from a list of choreographers and often see

s old dancers from the team and ends up working with them. “Now in USA, I actually work with some of my old students. I work with them and I used to be their coach!” Graham said. “It’s really fun and we always reminisce.”Travelling almost every other weekend to a great deal of locations, she inspires students from rich to poor with her enthusiasm on the dance floor. “Some teams have 40 member and some only 20 … Some have multiple dance studios on their campus and others practice in the cafeteria,” Graham said. But regardless their financial state, she gives them her best work and sometimes, a winning routine.At the end of the day, Graham feels the art of dance is the most important.“With all the budget cuts, it’s good to know people are still dancing without the classes.” Graham said. “People are still willing to dance until six every night all year long on the team, it’s nice to know they are still putting forth that effort.”{cc-by-nc-sa}