Quail Run Claims 2023 Lights On! Crown
LAWRENCE, Kan. – ‘All the Single Ladies’ brought their dance moves to the 2023 Lights On! stage as the Quail Run Elementary site earned first place with a medley of Beyonce songs. Icons was the theme of the latest edition of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence’s annual dance competition, featuring a lineup of superstars ranging from James Brown to Lady Gaga.
Hosted at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, Quail Run earned first-place honors, Deerfield BGC finished in second with their performance to Whitney Houston and third place was awarded to Sunset Hill Elementary site’s Prince routine. No matter the score, every team put on a performance worthy of the musical icons they danced to. Pride beamed from each choreographer and mentor as they watched their kids perform the routines they’ve been practicing for weeks.
“I am so incredibly proud of these kids,” said Paige Sheehan, one of the choreographers at Quail Run. “When we heard ‘First Place… Quail Run,’ we were screaming, crying and hugging – all of us, the kids and the staff! We had so much fun watching them perform together, and when the crowd cheered so loudly for them, it felt amazing. We are so proud.”
For the last six weeks, all 12 Club sites have been hard at work, putting together a dance routine to a mashup of hits by the artists they were assigned at random. What is extra impressive is how hard the mentors work with the kids to help them learn a dance routine when many of them have never had the opportunity to dance before. What resulted was nearly 200 kids displaying tremendous courage by getting on stage in front of a full LMCMS auditorium and dancing their hearts out.
“I want to thank everyone for coming,” said Monica Dittmer, BGCLK CEO. “To hear that crowd cheer so loudly over and over again – our kids feel that love and support in such an awesome way. I love watching them at the end of each performance. You can see that sense of accomplishment and pride on their faces. I love that so much.”
The crowd had plenty to cheer about as great performance after great performance graced the stage, made even more entertaining by the costume choices each team selected. Woodlawn BGC danced to a Taylor Swift medley that included friendship bracelets and a shoutout to Swift’s new beau, Travis Kelce. Cordley BGC brought out the poodle skirts and slicked back hair to pay homage to Elvis. The teens sported different Tina Turner looks throughout her long career, and the Schwegler dancers rocked out in rhinestone-fringed denim jackets and cowboy boots in their salute to Dolly Parton.
Sean Kellerman, a Boys & Girls Club Unit Director and a radio voice of the Jayhawks, brought laughter and energy that made the fun show even better. Without a doubt, the most difficult job belonged to the panel of judges.
The noble volunteers were tasked with scoring the dances in categories such as degree of difficulty, creativity, showmanship and choreography. The 2023 Lights On! judges were: Hanan Misko (Lawrence Arts Center), Jamie Keiter (Kansas Enrichment Network), Ellie Smajda (Dance Gallery), Camryn Palmer (Dance Hues), Linda Longino (USD 497/BGCLK) and Leslie Downing (USD 497/BGCLK).
Beyond its before and after school programs, BGCLK serves many purposes. Part of creating an optimal Club experience is facilitating a sense of belonging and creating opportunities for youth that they may not get to experience otherwise. The annual Lights On! event does exactly that. This dance competition provides the chance for Club kids to shine on stage for all of their families, friends and fans in attendance.
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is celebrating its 24th year. This is the only nationwide annual event celebrating after school programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The national celebration of Lights On Afterschool Day is a tribute to the organizations across the country that keep their “lights on” after school hours. Approximately 8,000 afterschool programs are expected to participate in the 24th annual Lights On Afterschool celebration.
The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things. The Lights On! events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. As a partner of the alliance and the largest afterschool program in Lawrence, the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence works every day to help fill that need.