Thank you to Paul Schmidt from Hawk Creek Photography for providing some of the photos used in this story.
The gym was full of supportive fans and community members on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 as the Falcons hosted a double header. Fans also got a special treat during halftime of the girls’ game, something that has been a uniquely ACGC tradition for the past 24 years, an incredible dance performance by all of the third and fourth grade students.
It all started back in 2002 when former teacher Mrs. Benson had the idea to bring the art of dance and choreography to elementary aged students. With help from Kristi Lilleberg-Barber who has loved dance and choreography since she was very young, what started as a way to get kids moving quickly turned into something that would become a fan favorite not only for the community, but for the students who get to perform.
“It really has been a hit with the community,” said Lilleberg-Barber. “Plus, the kids seem to love it and even those who may not be excited about dancing at first are often pleasantly surprised by how good it feels after the show.”
For about 12 weeks each school year, elementary special time is shifted slightly once a week so that all nearly 120 students can be in the gym at the same time to learn the steps and work through different formations, all while meeting physical education standards and using musical concepts like rhythm, beat, and more.
“With kids that age there are definitely some days that are a bit more chaotic than others, especially at the beginning,” said Lilleberg-Barber. “I am fortunate to have the help of the PE teacher, paras, and other adults in the room to help pull things together.”
Each year, students are able to do one performance during the school day for their families and then again for a huge crowd at a basketball game. When the extreme cold weather of 2026 resulted in canceled activities, the group even got an extra rehearsal in before the rescheduled performance in February.
Before the show, students sit on the sidelines in their order with excitement and anticipation to showcase their talents. When halftime begins, the students file out to the gym floor and once the music starts, this year a remix of an Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen song, the show gets underway. The first half of the show is impressive with students showing great rhythm.
About halfway through the performance, the real fun starts as the lights in the gym go out and each student pulls out two glow sticks with a great reaction from the crowd. They keep the movement going, creating a flurry of green and pink light. When the final notes hit, the audience erupts in applause and 12 weeks of learning comes to a celebratory conclusion.
“I have retired from a lot of the dance-related initiatives that I was doing including ACGC Community Ed, but I just couldn’t let the third and fourth grade light show go,” said Lilleberg-Barber. “The kids this year really learned the choreography quickly and I just continue to be impressed with how well it all comes together. It’s just so fun!’