March 28, 2024

New features added to Creston’s Jam the Gym event

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance at Creston High School

One of Creston High School’s fastest growing events in popularity and size, Jam the Gym, kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday at Southwestern Community College.

In her last year as coach for the Salt and Pepper dance teams, Meg Haines said there will be a lot of dance routines, plus a grand march for teams that have placed at state in the 2014-15 school year and the crowning of the TWIRP BIRP king.

“It just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” Haines said. “The kids are really excited about dancing.”

Spectators will get a chance to watch the award-winning Salt and Pepper dance teams perform, as well as the Jr. Salt and Peppers, Lil’ Salt and Peppers and the SWCC Dazzlers dance team.

“We have more than 80 dancers participating in second through fifth grade alone,” Haines said. “There is always a lot of interest in that age group’s performance.”

The Peppers won the lights division dance for the sixth year in a row at the state competition. Creston placed second in the coed division and the Peppers were fifth with their hip hop routine.

“We have eight senior boys and eight senior girls,” Haines said. “That is a big class that has always participated with the dance team.”

One of the most popular routines last year was a father and daughter dance routine. Haines said it will be replaced with the Salt seniors dancing with their mothers. The senior Salt and Peppers will also have a special performance.

The “march of champions” will be a new highlight for this year’s Jam the Gym. The football, bowling and wrestling teams will be recognized for their performances at state.

The TWIRP BIRP king candidates for 2015 are Stone Hammons, Bryce Briley, Jay Wolfe, Spencer Wray, Cory Rathe and Tayler Pettit.

Get your tickets

The cost is $5 at the door, but advance tickets are available at Creston High School all week to allow easier and quicker access into the event.

“It gives people an express lane,” Haines said. “In the past, the lines have gone out the door, but last year, it worked really well and there was hardly any line because people could show their wrist bands.”

Haines added more than 500 tickets were sold in advance for last year’s event. Remember, activity tickets are not accepted for Jam the Gym.

“I hope we fill up the gym as quickly as we have in the past,” Haines said.