Unexpected Totino-Grace Staff Dance Proves YouTube Gold

A video clip of staff and faculty doing a surprise dance at a student pep fest has become one of the school's most-watched events on YouTube after only a week. 

More than 40 Totino-Grace staff and faculty members took part in the performance during a Catholic Schools-Winter Week celebration, running onto the gym floor one by one, flash-mob style. 

The brainchild of campus minister Carrie White soon became a secret project involving several hush-hush practice sessions before the big show Feb. 4, according to co-worker Kristen Ostendorf, who also teaches English and coordinates the school's service program. 

Angie Manilla, whose Moore than Dance studio is nearby in Fridley, lent her choreographic talents to the production. 

"The kids didn't pay attention [to the rehearsals]," Ostendorf said. "We swore everyone to secrecy."

But when their teachers were grooving in front of them, the kids paid attention. "They were in disbelief," said Ostendorf, who said she expressions of "I can't believe they're doing this"—as well as (officially banned) student cell phones which suddenly appeared to record the event. 

A video of the performance had registered more than 12,000 views on YouTube as of Saturday, surpassing the view count for a video of the amazing play that won the 2007 state football tournament. 

The staff and faculty dancers had "no real point" except "for the fun of it," according to Ostendorf. Students may not always remember what their teachers tell them about iambic pentameter or the popes of the Middle Ages, she said, "but they'll remember we danced.

"I think it says, 'We care about you.'"