HOLLY POND, Ala. – The Wonderful World of Disney took over Holly Pond’s Felton Easterwood Gymnasium Thursday night for the school’s 61st annual Spring Festival. The elementary students put on a magical show inspired by the many characters of Walt Disney. Leading the program for her 22nd year was Melissa Roberts, the school’s music teacher.
The gym was packed as the kids filed in for the show. The kindergarten classes got things started with a high-energy performance to “The Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book,” dressed as cute jungle animals, followed by the first graders, who took the program from the jungle to the African Savanna. Dancing to music from “The Lion King,” the students were young lions, zebras, giraffes and colorful birds.
The second-grade classes presented “Mulan,” as the girls performed in traditional Chinese dresses to a beautiful fan dance. They were then joined a large group of ninjas as the boys got the crowd dancing to “Kung Fu Fighting.”
Third graders, all dressed as adorable foxes, tried to answer one of the greatest questions of today’s generation as they performed “What Does the Fox Say?” Following the foxes was a large group of fourth- grade zombies. They danced a fun musical number from the Disney movie “Zombies.” The zombie cheerleaders demonstrated their gymnastic skills as part of the routine.
Finally, the fifth-grade came out to Imagine Dragons’ “On Top of the World” as the lights in the gym were turned down and the students performed a spectacular light show, which continued as the fifth grade gave its farewell performance to Holly Pond Elementary to “High Hopes” by Panic at the Disco. The elementary seniors represented many of the Disney’s greatest characters from “Star Wars” and “Winnie the Pooh” to “101 Dalmatians” and “Kim Possible.”
First grader Marshall Ramsey was all smiles after the show as he showed off his blue parrot costume. He was quite proud of his awesome costume that his mom and Nana made for him. All the kids were eager to give their teacher Mrs. Roberts a big hug. As all great teachers do, she obliged each of her students as they posed for pictures and thanked her.
Roberts said of the show, “We started on it after spring break.”
She not only teaches the music, but she also choreographs all the dances.
She laughed, “I do it, but my girls tell me, ‘Mother you do the same move over and over.’”
Roberts gave credit to her predecessors for starting the Spring Festival and said she loves the tradition.
She said, “They (the kids) make it. I tell them, they aren’t coming to see me. They are coming to see y’all.”
Blakely Baggett, a fifth grader, played the role of the Queen of Hearts. She said she remembers each show she has performed in since kindergarten.
Smiled Baggett, “Mrs. Roberts is a really sweet person and any person would be glad to have her as a music teacher.”
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