These Elementary Students Were Invited To Dance At The White House
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Next month, a new tradition at the White House will include some elementary school students from Minnesota.
Two years ago, the first lady invited kids from across the country to perform in a talent show to showcase a new program called Turnaround Arts.
Minnesota is one of 14 states where schools with challenges receive funding to integrate the arts into classwork.
Fourth- and fifth-graders at Bethune Community School in north Minneapolis were getting ready Thursday to perform at this year's show, which is slated for the end of the month.
The students say they're not nervous.
"Not really, because I've presented before the school before," said Travonte Sumpter, a Bethune fifth-grader. "So it's not that much pressure that I would usually have at an excited moment."
The song that the students are singing is called "Powerful." It's from an episode of the TV show "Empire."
Students from Bethune will be singing and dancing with students from Northport Elementary in Brooklyn Center and Northside Elementary in St. James.
The performance includes dramatic poses that each of the children chose to illustrate what it means to be powerful.
Assistant principal Delon Smith is helping the Bethune students rehearse.
"The biggest thing for me is confidence," she said. "I think it is really going to skyrocket their confidence."
Because Bethune is part of the Turnaround Arts program, local and national artists regularly visit its classrooms and teach.
"They understand this is all part of learning," said Principal Cheryl Smith. "And the more creative you are, the more it's encouraged, the more they get out of it."
The principal of Northport Elementary chose the song and came up with the choreography for the routine.
If you'd like to help the group with their travel expenses, you can visit their GoFundMe page.