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Soda Creek Elementary School third graders sing "Amigos" during the "Movin' and Groovin' Masquerade" on Wednesday night. Watch »

Steamboat Springs — Alex Wadsworth, 8, strode confidently onto the gymnasium floor in an orange-and-white dress she said came from Japan.

“I’m going to do a Hopi dance that my father taught me,” she told a large crowd gathered at Soda Creek Elementary School on Wednesday. “And it’s actually from a Hopi reservation.”

The third-grader in Mrs. Waldschmidt’s class then proceeded to swirl and step lightly through the dance, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience. Alex’s Native American dance and Asian attire were just two of the cultures represented at the colorful event, a performance by Soda Creek third-graders titled “Movin’ and Groovin’ Masquerade.” Coordinated largely by physical education teacher Chris Adams and music teacher Amy Larson, the multicultural show included an African song from the country of Ghana — sung by the students in African, Spanish, Japanese and English — a Native American song from the Apache and Navajo tribes, a song of friendship sung in several languages including French and Hebrew and an energetic Irish social dance.

“I thought it was awesome,” Soda Creek Principal Judy Harris said of the show, which she said is part of a collaborative multicultural program.

“Keeping the balance of academics with art and movement — and the whole child — is so important as kids grow. …We don’t ever want to lose that.”

Alex said she worked on the Hopi dance for several weeks.

“I like how it goes with the drum beats,” she said after the performance. “It’s very fun.”

Students wore costumes in a rainbow of colors and styles, including everything from Hawaiian shirts and leis to floor-length dresses, brightly colored robes and Caribbean-style hats.

And in a surprise performance of “Rockin’ Robin,” a song by Bobby Day from 1958, many students turned loosely structured choreography into a free-style dance session, snapping their fingers and jitterbugging as parents sang along from their seats.

Adams applauded the children for their willingness to try new things, such as a Western-style dance that required holding hands with partners.

“Some of you might remember your square-dancing days in elementary school,” Adams told the crowd. “I appreciate these kids getting out of their comfort zones and being able to partner dance with their classmates.”

Adams said creating that willingness took only a few classes.

“In the first couple days, they were very hesitant,” Adams said. “Then they rose to the occasion.”

— To reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4233

or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com