Video: Boys And Girls Club Members Learn ‘Charleston’ Style Dance For Major Fundraiser

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) –   Some members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi are putting on their dancing shoes as part of a major fundraiser.

For the seventh year, the club has received a grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission that supports a ballroom dance program.

WCBI’s Allie Martin tells us how the dance classes promote physical and mental health, and also help raise money for the clubs.

For several hours each day this week , the basketball court at the Northside Boys and Girls Club becomes a dance floor.

These club members are learning a routine they will perform during the annual “Dance Like the Stars” fundraiser next month.

“We’re doing single time swing, a little bit of Charleston,” said Instructor Tammy Wilson, who found a 1920s style version of Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love”.  Students have taken lessons throughout the summer at “The Dance Studio” but this week it’s dance class bootcamp.

Wilson teaches this class each year and says the youngsters are star students.

“They learn so fast that you have to keep them engaged, they learn so fast they want to move on to the next thing before they maybe have it exactly right, they love it and keeping their enthusiasm focused in the right direction is sometimes a fun challenge,” Wilson said.

Some of these youngsters have danced in previous fundraisers, others are brand new, but they all look forward to the lessons and the big performance.

“It makes me think more, get the concepts of some things, with the steps, and footwork and everything,” said Veteran Student Kalyse McGaha.

“I have learned some new dance I haven’t learned before and I would like to show my children one day, how I danced and who was the teacher that taught me how to dance,” said first year student Coland Pickens.

The students are also learning valuable life lessons.

“We get to develop the physical, mental, the social , it’s an appropriate way to socialize with the opposite gender which is a fantastic thing for the youth,” Wilson said.

“Dance Like the Stars” takes place August 22nd at the Bancorpsouth Arena.

WCBI’s Allie Martin is a celebrity contestant in “Dance Like the Stars.”  For more information on the event, including how to purchase tickets and help Allie meet his fundraising goal, go to,   http://www.bgcnms.org/allie-martin.aspx