More than just tumbling

If you live in the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school district, you've most likely heard of well-known local tumbling instructor Danette Block.

Block has a vast background in the tumbling and dance scene. She started under Ocheyedan instructor Bernie Willadsen in the third grade and eventually became a classroom assistant and coach under Willadsen in high school. The longtime instructor was asked to teach in Hartley but wasn't interested in the position, so she asked Block if she'd like to do it.

The answer was a resounding yes, and Block has been at it since 1979.

"That was one night a week, teaching dance and tumbling in Hartley," says Block. "I wasn't allowed to teach when I was pregnant with our twins, so I took two years off then."

In 1994, the administration at H-M-S gave Block a call requesting her to teach tumbling within the school district. The rest, as they say, is history.

Block's territory isn't confined to school walls. She also has a dance studio in Ocheyedan, where her daughter, Kayla Kruger, and Sarah Jeppson help teach dance classes as co-instructors.

Good help is a necessity when dealing with a horde of excited youngsters, and Block gives credit where it is due. She can't do her job alone and requests assistance from numerous teaching assistants: Kyle Block, Kelsie Boyer, Kaylen Kuchel, Diane Loeschen, Liz Maurer and Lindsey Otis, to name a few.

"All of these, but one, are former students of mine," Block noted happily, also mentioning high school student-teaching assistants Annika Jenness, Cadence Klein, Delaney Murphy and Emma Vollink.

Block teaches students 3 years old through high school age. There were 10 classes in her H-M-S program this year.

"I group students some by age, but mostly by what level they are at," she said. "My favorite part of teaching is seeing students master new skills. Seeing how excited they are when they learn a new skill, whether it's a beginner doing a cartwheel or a student landing their back tuck for the first time. Teaching has been a part of my life for a long time; I guess I just have a passion for it!"

Block is proud of each one of her students and always makes sure they know that she doesn't care if they are the greatest, but encourages them to try their hardest and do the best they can. That is palpable both within her classroom and as an audience member in the stands at recitals – she cares deeply.

Last weekend Block held her annual recital in the H-M-S High School gym. Last year's event was put on hold due to COVID-19, so medals were handed out in a drive-thru procession in the parking lot. This year, she made a comeback with style and a whole lot of grace.

The program, titled "God Bless the USA," focused on motivation and togetherness. The finale was a moving one. Flags in-hand, students gathered center-gym for the Lee Greenwood classic 'God Bless the USA.' High schoolers were front and center ready to start a large flag routine, and on the mic was Block.

Through tears, she spoke of former student, Staff Sgt. Shane Koele, who died serving our country in Afghanistan 16 years ago on March 16, 2005. He was the first male student to join Block's tumbling program and she remembered how fearless he was in the face of judgement about his decision to do so.

Block said Koele knew that tumbling would better him in all other sports, and he enjoyed his time learning new skills.

"We did this same song 16 years ago as a tribute to Shane," she said.

As Block ended her speech, she introduced military members to present the American flags. The crowd stood in solemn respect as the "God Bless the USA" routine progressed.

The gymnasium came for a recital and was moved to near tears for the passion felt through the children's flawless performance and their lead instructor's heart to do what moved her. She used her talents to speak through the program to a community that didn't know they needed to hear that message that day.

"With everything that has gone on in our country, I decided we needed to again do 'God Bless the USA,' " Block said. "This song has a lot of meaning to me and I feel it is important to all of us."