Teachers on treadmills

By Leslie McCartney, of The Montana Standard - 04/25/2007

Dave Murto, Chris Fisk, Scott Cooney and Doug Ruffier, all teachers at Butte High, practice their treadmill dance on the stage of the Butte High Auditorium. The four will perform Thursday and Friday evenings during the Purple B’z Spring Fantasy in the auditorium. Lisa Kunkel / The Montana Standard.

Butte High teachers Chris Fisk, Scott Cooney, Dave Murto and Doug Ruffier have collaborated on many projects for their students, from food drives to creating Christmas displays, to making buffalo sausage, and dressing up like the Village People.

But this week, the fab foursome — who range in age from 35 to 51 — will put their dancing skills to the test as they re-create an Internet phenomenon, a dance done on moving treadmills by the Chicago-based group called OK Go.

In that music video, four band members — dressed in skinny pants, ties and vests — do an intricate dance on eight treadmills. Its exposure on the the popular YouTube gave it a 2006 award in the most creative category.

“This is a lot harder than it looks,” panted Ruffier, as he and his colleagues practiced on stage at the Butte High auditorium. “I told them I couldn’t do this. I’m a fat, old guy.” “But we have goals,” added Fisk.

Amid jokes about needing an ambulance on stand by, the four will perform at Thursday and Friday night’s Spring Fantasy, a performance staged each year by the Butte High Purple B’z. The shows begin at 7 p.m. in the Butte High auditorium.

The idea for the dance came from B’z director Becky Cianca, who persuaded the four to throw away their pride and get on treadmills.

“They are just really good sports,” Cianca said as she shouted out dance directions from the side. “Box step,” she said, motioning to the men. “Freestyle,” she directed, telling the men they could dance any way they want for a couple measures.

That brought Fisk to the sideline with a chair to re-enact a scene from “Flashdance” and wondering where he could get a pail of water to splash down for effect.

While the teachers’ dance is inspired by the See TEACHERS, Page A7 video, the steps have been modified.

“What they did (OK Go) is too hard,” said Cianca, who choreographed the dance on borrowed treadmills.

“There’s a reason we went into history and English,” Fisk added as Cooney wiped sweat from his forehead after a strenuous run-through of the approximately three-minute routine, which had them jumping from treadmill to treadmill at times. “The most we run is to Taco John’s.” “Knees up high,” shouted Murto as he high-stepped it on his machine while a few of the dancers struggled to keep their balance.

Beside being good sports, the men said they are willing to give it their all because it is for the students at Butte High.

“The B’z put on a good show,” Fisk added.

— Reporter Leslie McCartney may be reached at leslie.mccartney@mtstandard.com.