Sixteen pairs of feet stomped along to the beat during the Parker Groovers final spring performance, a capstone to the seven weeks of work and effort put in by the dancers. Shades of pink colored the dancers’ costumes, and after every move, waves of vibrations filled the room from applause and music. Juniors Fiona Chazen and Jade Labkon organized, choreographed, and led this Lower School Club. During the showcase, they hosted parents and celebrated the students’ accomplishments.
The Parker Groovers is one of the first Lower School clubs run by students in the Upper School, leaving Chazen and Labkon without a clear path when creating the club. “We came up with this idea at the beginning of freshman year,” Chazen said, “but it sprouted in sophomore year. We have danced competitively our whole lives, but both of us have ended up stopping. I mean, dance has always been a joy for us, why not spread it to younger people?”
While a seemingly ambitious endeavor, the two persisted. “We decided to look at Intermediate School and had to talk with Mrs. Moore to avoid intersecting with lower school Parker PM,” Chazen said, “Ultimately, I do think it all came together really because we wanted it to.” After establishing the club, the two continued to lead and instruct the dancers guided by their passion.
“We meet every single Thursday at 7:15, and we always start with a song or two of warm ups to get our bodies moving. Then, we usually try to do a fun dance game,” Labkon said, walking through leading an average meeting. “What we do with our dance game is very intentional, because it creates an opportunity for students to become more confident,” Chazen said. “But, a big focus is on our group dance,” Labkon said, “so sometimes we’ll just go from warm up to group dance, depending on what the dancers need.”
“Jade and Fiona are just very natural leaders, and they could easily choreograph moves that went along with lyrics,” Upper School Counselor and Department Chair Winnie Kearns said.. Kearns acted as the club’s faculty advisor, and assisted Chazen and Labkon when proposing this idea to the Lower School. “Fiona and Jade wanted to make sure that they were providing leadership, but also gave the dancers space to make their own dances, which I think is a really good balance.” Kearns facilitated and oversaw during meetings, but never actually choreographed, unlike Chazen and Labkon. “Overall, they managed it really beautifully,” Kearns said.
Even with strong leadership and a passion for teaching, problems still do arise. “After we have more sessions, the kids start to feel more comfortable with us, which does lead to goofing off. So, when we have to take on an assertive role, we don’t yell at them, but we remind them that they have to listen,” Chazen said. A balance of silliness and structure guides their club, ensuring a successful final showcase. “Yes, we are their teachers, but we also want to be companions and people they look up to,” Labkon said.
Teaching younger students in addition to regular schoolwork and everyday responsibilities has the potential to become too large of a commitment. Chazen and Labkon meet with these children once a week early in the morning, in addition to planning and preparation. “I wouldn’t call teaching this class a commitment per se, but something we just enjoy,” Labkon said. “We both care a lot academically, but taking a break during our work to call and work on some moves has created an outlet that made us even more successful in our schoolwork.”
During their meetings, Chazen and Labkon act as collaborative leaders and teach their dancers together. Sometimes their dancers aren’t the only ones who learn lessons. “We aren’t going to interact with them the same way we interact with our peers or adults, so I think it taught us how to adapt to speaking to different audiences,” Chazen said, addressing a lesson the dancers taught her. “I learned a lot of patience, how to plan something and put it into action, and how if you have an idea, it doesn’t have to go over your head, and you can follow through,” Labkon said.
Even if a club is run smoothly, it can still have its issues. Many parents had questions regarding this club, wondering if it was meant for only girls. “Every single person is welcome, and we wish we had more gender representation,” Chazen said. “We would love to have boys, there just haven’t been any,” Labkon said. For centuries, dance has been stereotyped as a sport meant for girls, limiting those who feel able to participate and express themselves. By welcoming all students, Parker Groovers creates a space that encourages broader participation in dance.
