Students take performance art to the basketball court

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Snipes Academy elementary students have turned dribbling a basketball into a performance art with music and dance. A group of 4^th and 5^th graders are known as the Snipes Dribbling All-Stars.

David Rutledge, a PE teacher and the group’s instructor,  said in their second year they are stepping their game up and their performance.

“The challenge last year was to just see if they can do some basic ones and now we put it with some music and now the kids come up with the dances,” said Rutledge. “They weren’t nearly as good last year, and now you see the results of two years of work.”

Terrance Williams, a 5^th grader apart of the group, said his favorite part is performing for people.

“At first you might get a little nervous but when you hear everybody cheer for you, you start getting happy and hyped up,” said Williams.

Aymery Pittman, another 5^th grader in the group, said they work hard but it’s worth it because they get to perform.

“It’s not easy. It took hours and hours of practice,” said Pittman.

Hard work Rutledge said will pay off for these kids, not just on the court but in their lives.

“It’s good to have something in elementary school that gives them that motivator to perform their best for the rest of the day, so it’s been a big difference to a lot of those kids,” said Rutledge.

Rutledge said they are trying to get a performance at a Charlotte Hornets game. They are asking the community to tweet the Hornets to encourage them to allow the Snipes All-Stars to perform.

But they still have some performances lined-up. The Snipes Academy All-Stars will be performing in the next few weeks.

January 15^th at the UNCW Women’s Basketball game at 11:30 a.m.

January 18^th  at the MLK Parade

February 11^th at the Laney vs. Hoggard Basketball game

To learn more about the group you can check out their twitter @SnipesDribblingStars and you can check out their performances on Youtube.