Martha Reeves Comes to Avondale Middle School for Special Night of Basketball and Motown
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame megastar, Martha Reeves was singing and dancing in the gym at Avondale Middle School as part of the Avondale School District Elementary Basketball League’s schedule of special events. The season schedule for the League includes several special nights such as Diversity Night, Alumni Night, and Motown Night. Reeves was the star of Motown Night which celebrated that rare genre of music with a popularity that crosses generational lines. Singing and dancing by the legendary performer made up the half-time shows for each of two League games played during the evening.
Martha Reeves with the Avondale Cheerleaders at Motown Night
The League, made up of fifth-grade students from the District’s four elementary schools, Auburn Elementary, Deerfield Elementary, R. Grant Graham Elementary, and Woodland Elementary focuses on developing technical athletic skills as well as instilling in the students the elements of teamwork. Mostly though, the League is designed for fun – and it doesn’t get any more fun than dancing in the gym with Martha Reeves. During the half-time events, Reeves invited the crowd to join her as she performed popular Motown hits including “Jimmy Mack” and “Dancing in the Street”. Calling on the League cheerleaders to be her back-up dancers, she taught them to do “Temptation Dancing”, demonstrating for the young girls some of the moves made famous by the “Classic 5”.
Before the buzzer signaled the start of each third quarter, parents, staff and students could be seen on the court doing their own renditions of the Shimmy, the Swim, the Twist, and the Locomotion. Reeves never let on that she had the best moves in the gym though, engaging the dancers – young and old – and encouraging them to enjoy the music. Throughout the games she graciously welcomed fans who approached her for photographs and autographs. From the first note of The Star Spangled Banner, which she sang at the start of each game, to the final buzzer of competition, she was the Queen of Motown.
