Groveland Twp.- Diane Salter usually gets together with family on Super Bowl Sunday. This year, she will be able to recount being a part of the pre-festivities for the big event.
Salter, 45, who calls herself ‘a little bit of a football fan,? will display her own talents a week before the Super Bowl game is played at Ford Field in Detroit. She will dance as part of Nations in Rhythm Detroit, a multi-cultural dance show planned for 8 p.m., Jan. 28, at the Detroit Opera House to kick-off Super Bowl week.
‘I’m excited about this,? says Salter. ‘I’ve never danced in a venue like the Detroit Opera House. I’m overwhelmed by being part of all the Super Bowl events. It’s an honor.?
Salter is a student at the Dancin? Feet School of Music and Dance in Holly, one of 10 dance studios invited to participate in Nations in Rhythm Detroit. Each group performs dances from around the world.
‘Multi-culturalism is the essence of America,? explains Renee Ginell, owner of Dancin? Feet School.
Each studio will give a 10-minute performance. Salter and 18 other dancers from Dancin? Feet will present ‘The Spirit of the Gaels,? representing dances from Ireland, Scotland, Canada and Galicia, Spain. The piece consists of three segments- an interpretive Irish step dance; an old and traditional ceilidh (kay-lee) dance called ‘The Haymaker’s Jig?; and a party dance, which brings together Latin cha-cha, a Scottish Highland fling dance and Scottish Seinn Triubhas, rebel dances in the Scottish culture. During the third segment, Irish hard-shoe dancers will perform steps from the traditional treble reel with a flamenco fling.
Salter began Celtic dancing five years ago. She signed up for an adult class after getting daughter Ella into Irish dance classes.
‘I really like the dance and the culture and the music and just being able to do something that looks so neat,? says Salter, who describes the dances as fast and very feet-oriented. ‘I enjoy the exercise and have made very good friends over this.?
Other local residents who are Dancin? Feet students and will perform in Nations in Rhythm Detroit are Paula Baldwin, Jessica Tyle and Cindy Gibson, all of Brandon Township and Patty Foltz of Ortonville.
Tickets are still available for Nations in Rhythm Detroit through Ticketmaster and direct from the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit. Cost is $10-$15. For more information, call (313) 961-3500.