Culture Secretary Visits School Dance Flashmob

A flashmob based in a Cupar school canteen is proving to be Scotland's newest internet sensation.
So much so, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs has paid a visit to the High School.
Bell Baxter High School achieved fame when staff and pupils, led by Head Teacher Phil Black, were filmed performing an impromptu dance routine in the school canteen. The video was posted on the web and has received over 360,000 hits.
During her visit Ms Hyslop was given a tour of the faculty of expressive arts to see a stage performance before meeting informally with staff and pupils.
She said: “Dance is great fun. It’s a fantastic way to keep fit and has a great power to bring people together, to break down boundaries and to make people smile. Mr Black, his staff and senior pupils certainly achieved that when they performed for the rest of the school earlier this year and became an internet hit.
“Dance is more popular than football in Scotland as a physical activity and we really want to Get Scotland Dancing in the run up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as part of our Games Legacy for Scotland. With something happening in every community across the country, from traditional ceilidhs to local dance classes, it’s really easy to get involved, even if you’ve never done it before."
Ms Hyslop continued: “We want to build on the huge enthusiasm that already exists for dance in Scotland and ensure that more people have the opportunity to participate. We are also committed to supporting Scotland's vibrant dance sector and using dance to promote Scottish culture and creativity on the world stage.”
Speaking about the flashmob, which took place as a farewell to senior pupils, Mr Black said: "I think it is important to foster positive relationships with our pupils. We wanted to give the seniors something to remember and what better way than with a dance.
"I’d never danced before but I really enjoyed it, so did the rest of the staff. Not only did it cheer everyone up but it’s a great way to get fit too."
The video can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MagR4zDUKRE
(BMcN/BMcC)