By Abigail W.Adams
A member of the Spindrifters jumps rope on a unicycle during their performance at Edgecomb’s Eddy School Jan. 15. (Abigail Adams photo) |
South Bristol’s renowned jump rope club, the Spindrifters, gave its first performance of 2015 at the Edgecomb Eddy School Thursday, Jan. 15.
The school-wide assembly was geared toward exciting Eddy School students for a jumpathon, a fundraising activity for the American Heart Association, Eddy School Principal Lisa Clarke said.
Jump ropes whizzed through the air. The audience, which included students from Southport Central School, was enthralled. Eleven members of the Spindrifters danced an Irish jig, did the can-can, did pushups, and rode a unicycle – all while jumping rope.
The Spindrifters were created by South Bristol and Southport physical education teacher Liz Giles-Brown more than 15 years ago and quickly gained a reputation for excellence. The Spindrifters tour area schools annually. They are scheduled to give approximately 15 performances by April vacation.
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A member of the Spindrifters flips, twirls, and turns during the group’s performance at the Edgecomb Eddy School on Jan. 13. (Abigail Adams photo) |
Following the Jan. 15 event at the Eddy School, the Spindrifters traveled to Wiscasset Primary School for another performance.
“It’s fun to perform for other kids,” said Chris Burrow, a member of the Spindrifters. “I like to see their reaction. Sometimes we see them trying to do what we did too and that’s really fun.”
“It’s great to have other kids showcase their talents,” Clarke said. “It gets our kids excited to try new things.”
Clarke announced at the assembly that Eddy School’s jumpathon would begin soon. The jumpathon is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association. Children find sponsors and commit to jump rope in the morning before school.
Students receive prizes based on the amount of money raised, but, Clarke said, that aspect of the program isn’t highlighted.
“We try to focus on the purpose of it,” Clarke said. “Last year we showed the students a video about how the money is used and how it helps people in need.”
The Spindrifters performances also support the American Heart Association, Giles-Brown said at the start of the assembly.
“People need to go out and get their heart rate up,” Giles-Brown said to the audience. “When your heart gets stronger … ”
” … It lasts longer,” the students in the audience chimed in.
“It was exciting and surprising that they knew all those skills,” Meghan Clifford, a sixth-grader at the Eddy School, said about the performance. “I want to learn the octopus,” she said, referring to a trick in which the jump rope is weaved through the legs and over the head.
“It was really exciting and really cool,” Ava Carmolli, a sixth-grader at Eddy School who plans to participate in the jumpathon, said. “I want to learn all (the tricks).”
