Scouts Put On ‘Thinking’ Shoes
The whine of bagpipes, the voice of a Hawaiian crooner and the metallic chang of finger cymbals filled Shadle Park High School auditorium last week as background music for several groups of ethnic dancers.
About 185 girls from dozens of Girl Scout troops - and their adult leaders - enjoyed an evening of international dance as part of the Girl Scouts’ annual “Thinking Day.”
“Thinking Day is for learning about different countries and Girl Scouts in other countries,” explained Nicole Urquhart, a third-grader at Woodridge Elementary School. Girl Scouts have a presence in 136 countries.
“It’s important so we can find out about other countries because we don’t just want to learn about our country,” added Brownie troopmate and classmate Nicole Himelspach.
Performances included the Shadle Park Scottish pipers and Highland dancers, a folk dance from India performed by Brownie Troop 473, a Hawaiian dance, a middle-Eastern dance by Veronica Nichols of the group Na’Joom, two old-time American dances by members of the Silver Spurs, and a Transylvanian dance by the Erdely Ensemble.
All the dancers wore colorful, regional costumes. Kilts and knee socks, saris, sarongs and prairie dresses were just some of the outfits that decorated the stage.
After the demonstration, the Girl Scouts split into groups to learn some of the dances they saw.
Assumption School second-grader Sara Sturm said she was most excited to learn the Hawaiian dance.
“I like how they moved their hands,” she said. “It was like a butterfly.”
Sisters Janelle and Tami Pule instructed an eager Brownie troop on authentic Hawaiian hip movements (bend one knee and keep the other straight, then switch).
Others clacked sticks together as Sree Nandagopal taught them the Indian folk dance, and some watched as kilted Shadle dancers demonstrated a jaunty jig.
In another room, members of the Erdely Ensemble taught a Hungarian circle dance that required close listening to sometimes tricky directions.
“It’s hard because he keeps yelling different things for us to do,” said frustrated Brownie Monique Rose, who is homeschooled. “But it’s fun.”
Adults agreed the night was a hit. In years past, Thinking Day has been celebrated with cultural fairs and regional foods that one troop leader remembered as chaotic and filled with long lines.
The dance night, though, was a clear success. The turnout was one of area Girl Scouts’ biggest ever, said event organizer Susan Hamilton.
“It was great. It shows that people are really interested in this,” she said. “I think they all got a feeling for all the different cultures.”