"We have a whole family involved in this show," Haylett said proudly, ushering over a mother dressed as Ball and a bevy of youngsters — including two boys in dapper tuxedo costumes.
Donna Gee will join her children in the show; Haylett's dance for moms has them all dressed as Lucy, dancing with cans of Spam.
Gee said her last dance experience was disco and two-step at happy hour, preceded by the usual intro to tap and ballet classes in school, as well as a short stint learning Spanish dancing.
She praised Haylett for being flexible with her schedule to make it possible for her and other moms to take part in the classes.
"She made it work," she said.
Four of her five kids take part in Haylett's classes; daughter Danielle also takes dance, but now in another program at Thurston Middle School. She helps out at recitals, though.
This is her son Ethan's first recital, so he was busy adjusting every costume just so, and practicing his leaps in a corner of the gym.
"He's just loving it," Gee said. "He's a totally different person since starting with Miss Linda."
She's so sold that her daughter Vanessa doesn't even attend preschool.
"Miss Linda is her preschool," she said. "She doesn't just teach dance."
Her children have learned singing, etiquette and a dash of confidence too, she said.
Vanessa will sing in Jet Screamer's "hit" 1962 song "Eep Op Ork Ah Ah" from the Jetsons, as well as a scat-style verse composed by another class mom, who's a professional singer.
"She just throws it together, Miss Linda," Gee said.
Haylett created a "Beauty and the Beast" segment before she knew that Laguna Beach High School was working on its own smash version.
