Gym class no longer the same song and dance for OCHS students

Written by Ann Richardson Saturday, March 23, 2013 01:00 am

The Ocean City High School dance and fitness students perform at the OC's Got Talent show in February.

OCEAN CITY — Not everyone is comfortable with the structure and organization of the traditional gym class, so Ocean City High School’s new dance and fitness program is music to the ears of those who march to the beat of a different drummer.

Created to enhance the school district’s performance arts offerings through the School Choice program, the inaugural program has been a rousing success, school officials say.

The program was recently awarded a grant from the Ocean City Education Foundation to purchase new floor mats to absorb the impact of dancing on the gym’s hardwood floor. At a meeting last week honoring the 18 grant recipients, Principal Matthew Jamison said the program “has taken off” under the leadership of Alyssa Preis, a physical education teacher who was hired last year.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s only been here since September,” Jamison said.

The program, which involves a variety of dance, including jazz, hip-hop, modern and Zumba, is offered through the rotation of the district’s physical education program. 

“We offered it for a marking period, so kids could see what we mean by dance fitness,” Jamison said. “For next year, they can sign up, so dance fitness is their gym class.”

Students will still be required to take a marking period of health class, he said.

Preis, he said, was uniquely qualified to lead the new program.

“She has 18 years of different genres,” he said of her training, adding that her enthusiasm for the program goes beyond the classroom. “A group of her students entered the OC Talent Show, she worked with them through the community lunch. They practiced and they did a great job.”

“What I really like about this program is that it brings different kids that don’t otherwise know each other together. They come together through the dance medium and they really have a lot of fun,” Jamison said.

Preis was born and raised in Washington Township, graduating from Towson University in 2007. With a degree in sports management, she began teaching fitness classes.

“It set me off. Teaching dance was what I always wanted to do,” she said.

So she went back to school, earning her teaching certificate from Rowan University in 2010. She was a student-teacher in the Lenape School District and was hired by Shawnee as a long-term substitute the following year to teach physical education, health and dance.

“Most of the time, you get the physical education job, and then have to push them to get the dance program,” Preis said. “I was really excited that the district already supported it, and I was very disappointed that the budget cuts meant I couldn’t continue.”

So she started sending out resumes.  

“I almost skipped over Ocean City,” she said, as there are always a lot of applications for few job openings.

She took a second look when she saw the opening for a dance and fitness teacher.

The program was approved at a July 18, 2012 board meeting. She was hired a short time later to begin that September.

“The pieces just fell into place. It’s been amazing,” she said. “It was meant to be. I’m really thrilled to be here. The timing was perfect for me. This really is a dream come true for me, and the support has been wonderful.”

The program, she said, is a blessing for many students.

“Some kids don’t like to play organized sports; they like the dance aspect,” she said. “Maybe they’re not into ball sports or racquet sports, having dance as an option is a great opportunity for them.

“It’s an opportunity to still enjoy physical education and be in an atmosphere that they are comfortable in, surrounded by kids who also enjoy the atmosphere. It gives them an option.”

High school students, she said, can sometimes be shy, or awkward in physical education classes. The competitive atmosphere can be intimidating, but the opportunity to express themselves through dance is embraced.

“The wallflowers actually participate,” Preis said. “They enjoy themselves, maybe for the first time they feel comfortable participating in gym class. They participate and they smile and have fun.”

Preis said her class is loosely built on a similar program designed by Rancocas Valley teacher named April Wagner.

“Her program started small and she’s built it,” she said.

An emphasis is placed on the athlete’s core, with a lot of strength work and yoga. Preis said this makes any athlete stronger, more flexible and agile. Everyone, she said, benefits from dance and fitness.

“It’s good cross training. It’s good for athletes to be all-around athletes, not single sport athletes,” she said. “When I was in high school I played soccer, basketball and I danced.

“You see some of the athletes struggle, with hand-eye coordination because they don’t have basketball skills, but they can play another sport real well. It works all the way around. Cross training is the best thing for every athlete, for every student.

The participation numbers for next year, she said, are “looking good.”

“We’re going to offer one class per grade level,” she said, adding that the program will be more comprehensive.

Cardio exercises, like kickboxing, will be included and she would like to add Pilates.

“The girls are really excited about it,” she said.

Boys, Preis said, groan a little bit in the beginning, but once they get comfortable, they’re laughing and having fun.

“Along with learning new things, I’d like to see the students make up some of their own dances,” she said.

Two of her students helped the winning Mr. Ocean City High School candidate choreograph his performance.

Preis said she’d like to see the students offer performances, given the energy and enthusiasm that went into the recent talent show.

“The new dance floor will be very useful,” she said. “We’re very excited about the possibilities.”

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