“Step, step, cross. Step, step, cross.”

That’s how it all began as 20 students from Northstar’s Cheer Club laced up their sneakers and took to the dance floor at Richmond Urban Dance. During this exciting field trip, students had the opportunity to learn a brand-new routine taught by professional instructors in a welcoming, high-energy environment.

“First we did the Cha-Cha Slide, then the teacher taught us new choreography for a new song,” said 7th grader Laureli. “We got to do our own dances, too, which was really fun.”

“It was incredible how quickly the students picked up the routine,” said Northstar board member Nancy Jordan, who attended the session.

As the hour-long class came to a close, the dancers gathered in a supportive circle, and each student had the chance to shine with a freestyle moment in the center — cheered on by their peers and beaming with confidence.

“It made my week to see their smiling faces and to watch them cheer each other on as they danced!” Jordan added.

Cheer Club is an inclusive club available to any Northstar middle or upper school student. Northstar includes extracurricular activities as part providing a well-rounded school experience to every student.

Richmond Urban Dance offers a free weekly class designed for people with disabilities, providing an inclusive space where creativity, movement, and self-expression take center stage.