On Friday, Lyman Hall Elementary fifth-grade students sang about surfing, dancing and a little thing called love during a production called “Dance Mania,” a tribute to summer fun.

The entire school packed into the stuffy gym — students on the floor and teachers monitoring like hawks on the sides of the crowd — for the 30-minute musical production that is offered every nine weeks.

About 50 students participated in dancing and singing numbers like The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” Michael Buble’s version of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and other songs that relate to the freedom of summer that students will experience in a few weeks.

“I love the part you get to be free and away from school,” 11-year-old De’Jaughn Padonu said of summer vacation.
Padonu, who will start at Lewis Frasier Middle School next year, said he is excited about the performance he gave for his peers and school winding down.

“I’m looking forward to getting a good teacher and passing and getting out of school,” he said. “I think it was just awesome and a great experience.”

Lyman Hall music teacher Wade Taylor instructed the students for six songs. Like most of the adults and students in the sweltering room, he was sweating by the end of the performance.

“More than anything, just the value of hard work (is what I want the students to get out of this). The best things don’t come easily,” Taylor said about working on the performance for five weeks. “I was just extremely proud of them. We had a good time. All their efforts have a payoff.”

Taylor plans to visit family in West Virginia for the summer and is looking forward to relaxing once school is out.

“Thank you very much,” he told the audience and performers at the end of the production. “I’ve gotten my P90X workout twice today.”

Parent Heather Mendiloa said she attended to see her son, Chamo Mendiloa, perform and was happy to see another well-organized musical event put on by Lyman Hall students.

“I think it was great. It’s always good. The kids always have a good time,” said Mendiloa, who also remarked that she admires Taylor’s patience. “I think it’s amazing; he has to have patience.”