The Youth Educators, also known as YEDs, took the eighth graders to a galaxy far, far away on April 29, as the theme of this year’s YEDs dance was “Return of the Yedi.” The eighth grade students and eleventh grade YEDs danced the night away as they celebrated the end of their time together.
“Oh my god, the YEDs Dance was so freaking lit,” junior Amelia Henry said. “It was honestly the night of my dreams, it was so fun.”
The dance took place in the middle school multipurpose room, which was covered with balloons and other Star Wars decorations.
The original theme of the dance was Shrek, but Junior and YED Andrew DiGaetano said that changed after a parent complained because of an inappropriate video going around on the internet involving Shrek. So the Yeds changed the theme to “Return of the YEDi.”
“I am so here for Shrek and I already bought like thirty dollars worth of ‘shrekerations’ so I was really mad about the theme change,” Henry said. “I don’t particularly care for Star Wars, but it was still fun, and I don’t think it really mattered anyways.”
The dance was DJed by DJ Patrix who has a regular DJ gig for KYLD 94.9 in the Bay Area. He hosts a show Monday through Friday 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., also known as the “Commercial Free Hit List”
“I just hope that everyone has fun” Patrix said, “ I want it to be crazy and full of energy, and that everyone remembers it.”
Patrix said that when it comes to getting people out to the dance floor, any current hit tends to work, but he tries to get a feel for the crowd by playing different artists and genres.
“I thought the DJ was pretty good,” eighth grader Gabi Cota said. “He was from 94.9 which was pretty awesome.”
Cota said that she like how the event had snacks and decorations and that ultimately the YEDs and the YED Dance made her feel more comfortable going into high school.
“I really like the Star Wars theme,” Cota said. “At first it was Shrek and people were really upset about it, but return of the YEDi was also a cool theme and a nice pun.”
DiGaetano said that the enthusiasm the Yeds brought to the program and the dance is what really brought the eighth graders together at the dance..
Henry said her favorite part of the dance is when the song from the movie Shrek, “I’m A Believer” came on and her and a bunch of the other YEDs got on stage and danced.
The YEDs dance closed out this year’s YEDs program as the class of 2020 got to celebrate being one step closer to leaving the middle school and entering the high school.
