Our Town: LMS Jitterbug Dance Contest

Carrying on a tradition that is believed to have started at Libby Middle School in the early 1980s, students in grades 5-8 showed off their dancing moves in front of judges, parents, teachers and classmates on Thursday during the annual Jitterbug Dance Contest.

An activity that is a component of the LMS Health Enhancement department, the Jitterbug contest featured 49 couples who were not only having fun but competing for cash prizes. Glacier Bank sponsors the event and donates $300 that goes to the top five couples.

Deb Erickson, Ray Johnson, Tasha Johnson, Jen McElmurry and Vicki Randall served as judges – watching the contestants from their perch above the LMS gym floor. All 49 couples took the floor and danced through a handful of songs while judges made notes about who should advance.

After the final round ended, the winners were announced and seventh-graders Tyler Badertscher and Mahalah Wedel had taken the crown and $50 each for a second straight year. Eighth-graders Taylor Cook and Keeli Green finished second and won $40 each, followed by seventh-graders Isaac Jones and Devon Gallagher ($30 each), seventh-graders Devan Fuhlendorf and Jordan Holder ($20 each) and fifth-graders Gabe Peck and Madison Monigold ($10 each).

In between the Jitterbug preliminaries and final round, a limbo contest was staged. Five students tied for first place – Badertscher, Kristine Belista, Heidi Jaworksi, Marlena Urvater, and Kaileigh Sidmore.