“You’ve Got To Keep That Head Going”

Staff members at Stetson Branch Library told students to put down their books and to put on their dancing shoes Wednesday evening.

Diane Brown, the library’s branch manager and a former dancer, put together a dance program together that highlighted African and African-American culture. The library received a grant from the International Association of New Haven to host a cultural or international program.

Most dance moves started from African culture, said Carolyn Jenkins, one of the dance instructors who taught Caribbean dance moves that night. ​“They [other cultures] copy everything.”

Brown contacted local dance instructors to teach international dance moves.

“I really didn’t need to go outside of the community,” Brown said.

Dance instructors Shari Caldwell, who owns Caldwell Dance Center, taught more than 50 children how to do West and South African dances. Alisa Bowens, owner of Alisa’s House of Salsa, taught salsa moves. Jenkins’ Caribbean dance moves included reggae and reggaeton.

“Oh they [the kids] loved it,” Jenkins said. ​“They were so into it.”

Zyairia Barrow, 11, said the salsa and African dances were her favorite to learn: ​“It was fun. I learned a lot.”

The dance instructors also taught the kids American dances like the Bus Stop.

“Bus Stop is like 1972,” Brown said as the movements to the line dance were coming back to her. ​“Back up,” she told the kids. She then yelled to the DJ, ​“I need you to turn up loud so I can feel it!”

Another woman, Elaine Peters, jumped up from her chair and joined the dance floor. ​“I think I remember it now. You’ve got to get that head going,” she said to Brown and other ladies on the makeshift dance floor.

The kids also had a chance to teach the adults modern line dances like the Wobble and the Dougie.

“It’s really about everybody sharing,” Jenkins said. ​“We just want the community to move. The community needs to move.”