Setting the class to music

Deirdre Newman

First-grader Juan Loza loves to dance.

With a black hat atop his small head, Loza marched and shimmied to the

beat of Marcha de Zacatecas as his class rehearsed for Whittier

Elementary School’s upcoming Spring Fiesta.

As the lively music blared, it captivated groups of students who

stopped to watch on their way to lunch.

Juan’s teacher, Martha Blair, has choreographed dances for the fiesta

for the past five years. She works with most of Whittier’s students after

school. But her own students get the privilege of dancing during class

time.

Focusing on Mexican music and dance is essential, Blair says.

“They need to know what their heritage is and it helps their

self-worth,” Blair said.

Blair’s first-graders have been practicing on and off since the

beginning of January for their big day -- more than 600 people are

expected to attend the fiesta on Friday afternoon.

Blair chose the Marcha de Zacatecas after she saw it performed at the

Orange County Fair, she said.

“I thought it was a little difficult but I thought they could do it,”

Blair said, adding that she worked with half of her students last year on

another dance.

In addition to rehearsing the dance steps, Blair also encourages her

students to write about the experience.

“We integrate things that matter to them into their writing,” Blair

said. “That’s what’s motivating. We want them to have many experiences to

communicate about orally and written.”

Diego Barrara, 6, wrote about Mexican cowboys and cowgirls, which is

what the students will be dressed as during their performance.

Juan said dancing makes him feel fun and silly.

“I feel like I’m dancing on a stage,” Juan said.

Principal Sharon Blakely said she is impressed with the exposure Blair

provides her students.

“No parents here could afford dancing lessons,” Blakely said. “Here

these students are learning Ballet Folklorico. . . . [Blair] has high

standards and goes the extra mile.”

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot education

writer Deirdre Newman visits a campus in the Newport-Mesa area and writes

about her experience.