Kentridge High School students and community present the seventh annual Dance for Heart program on Friday, Feb. 1, National Heart Day, a show dedicated to the school’s late athletic director and instructor, Eric Anderson.

The program, “Livin’ the Dream,” as Anderson often said, is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the school’s Performing Arts Center, 12430 SE 208th St., Kent.

A teacher, coach and Kentridge’s longtime athletic and activities director, Anderson died unexpectedly in his sleep at home on July 7, 2018. Anderson died of heart disease. He was 57.

Described as “the face of Kentridge,” Anderson began teaching in the Kent School District in 1985 at Meeker Middle School, after working in the Tonasket School District. He came to Kentridge in 1998 and became the school’s athletic director in 2000.

Proceeds from the show – sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA) and Kentridge Sports Medicine – support the AHA.

A year ago, the sixth annual show at a packed PAC raised $5,000 for the AHA, according to Denise Wiskow, a sports medicine teacher, coach and Yoga Club advisor at Kentridge who has been directing the show since its inception. The show included 200 Kentridge-area performers.

“It’s a great opportunity for all students to show their talent and to work together as a team to raise heart disease awareness to the community,” Wiskow said. “The performers practice for months, and the show grows bigger every year. … This show brings all different cultures and all of the dance groups together at Kentridge.”

The entertainment lineup includes performances from the Chatelaines; Kentridge gymnastics; the Little Chargers; Steppers and Ballers; the Yoga Club; multicultural dancers from K-pop to hip hop; singers, solo and break dancers, and others.

The program is part of the school’s devotion to February, Heart Health Month.

Admission is $10 and includes a “heart” T-Shirt.

Eric Anderson. COURTESY PHOTO