By By Matthew Nascone
The Escambia County Board of Education has taken an interesting look at how to help students.
They have instituted the Expose All-Star Dance team to travel around town and talk to children about how to build good relationships and how to be a good person.
Now this team does not only talk to students about risks that are not needed, but they also take part in competitions around the Southeast.
Lashonda Marshall, the bookkeeper at Escambia County High School, is the girls' instructor and she leads them to the competitions and she said this is a great thing the girls are doing for their community.
"We receive grants from the county to go out to various schools and talk to the children about character and getting good grades," Marshall said.
The members of the award-winning dance team are, Michaela Norman, Treasure Fay, Josulyn Marshall, Emily Gehman, Jordan McGill and Ysuna Staples. The girls attend Escambia County Middle School and Escambia County High School.
Last weekend the girls participated in and won the Parade of Champions Spirit Bowl Bash in Mobile. Marshall said the team grabbed 268 of 300 possible points at the competition.
"We blew everybody else away," she said. "It was a great dance routine for the girls and they deserve it because they work extremely hard."
Marshall said the team practices three to four days per week and the girls also go around helping teach the art of step to local teams.
Step is the type of dancing where the dancers stomp the ground and clap their hands in rhythm while performing a dance.
"They have a lot of fun and it is a great experience for the girls," Marshall said. "This helps the girls and the ones they talk to build self-esteem and character."
The next competition for the girls will be on Feb. 11 at the Cupid Cup in Chickasaw, Ala. They will also compete in Mobile March 11 at the Dance Magic meet and March 12 in Birmingham at the American Cheer and Dance Academy meet.
But before their next meet the team will have a parent day Jan. 31 at 4:30 p.m. During this parent's day the parents of all the girls will be taught how to do the step routine.
"It should be an interesting night of music and fun," Marshall said.