By CATHERINE LEGG / Community Columnist

Montevallo Middle School was filled with the thunderous music and lively dancing that all the kids love on a recent Friday afternoon as more than 150 of them had a great time moving to the music played by popular DJ Antonio of Radio 95.7 Jamz.

The DJ kept the party lively with rap, hip hop and other contemporary music that he knew were the students’ favorites. It was probably the very first dance for many of them and was certainly the first in many years for this writer.

There was little boy-girl dancing, but almost everyone was on the floor doing what looked to be free-style or the line dancing they had learned in P.E. classes.

Whatever their dancing style, they were having a wonderful time.

As I looked around, I saw Bronwyn Burgess, Grace Stermer, Alyssa Leblanc and Kayci Forrest holding hands and dancing in a circle. Taylor Hall was moving rhythmically solo and then along with Chris Talley and Jay Sullens. I was tickled to find Jaret Yancey and Principal Shelia Lewis “cutting a rug,” and a little later I spied chaperon Patti Champion as she pulled her son, Cole, onto the floor.

Dr. Lewis explained that the event was one of four annual dances sponsored by the Parent-Teacher-Organization. The four are scheduled for homecoming, winter, Valentine’s Day and the end of the year. These are the largest fundraisers for the PTO; admission is only $4 and more than half of the students attend.

The dances have historically been held from 3–5 p.m., but this year the kids asked for a night-time party when they could go home, dress up, and come back; so the Valentine’s dance will be held from 5–7 p.m. on Feb. 10.

“It will not be too formal; not a prom,” said Lewis, “We want them to have that to look forward to in high school. They will dress up; the boys probably will wear a button down shirt and khaki pants, and the girls will wear nice dresses. When they dress up they act differently, more maturely.” The gym will be decorated for the Valentine dance and there will be someone there to make pictures.

As the recent dance made evident, the MMS PTO is a very active organization and they welcome new members. Carla Layton is the president, Sonya Lilly the vice-president, Patti Champion the secretary, and Tami Pickett the treasurer.

Call Layton at 907-2954 or Champion at 664-4043 to join the PTO or for additional information.

Catherine Legg can be reached by email at clegg2@bellsouth.net.