JAY – High schoolers stamped feet, clapped hands, blew kisses, swung partners and shook booty, all depending on what song they were rehearsing Friday for the upcoming lip sync contest.

Jessica Douglass and Corey Wells, students in drama teacher Kristel Anuszewski’s classes, stood on a short set of stairs, backs toward the stage, arms around each other as they waited for the music to “Signed, Sealed & Delivered” to play.

The two seemed comfortable with each other as the music started and they walked down the stairs to the stage facing the audience area.

Other students in the class of juniors and seniors either danced or waited on the sidelines for their parts.

Wells stepped to the front of the stage, Douglass gone from his arms, as she joined girls dancing around him as he danced.

The girls each ended up on one knee blowing kisses to Wells as he backed away dancing from the group and the music faded.

They participated in team-building exercises in the beginning of the school year to help build trust and get comfortable with each other.

“I’ve been dancing and singing since I’ve been 4,” student Heather Chaney said. She’s comfortable dancing in front of an audience, she added.

Douglass said Wells wasn’t her boyfriend; they were just good friends, and the team-building exercises helped make them comfortable working together and built trust.

Betsy Gemelli said she took lip sync because it’s fun.

“I’m a hands-on person,” she said. “It hard to learn but once you get it, it’s OK.”

Another song students danced to was “Car Wash” as a group of boys lined up on stage and clapped their hands and stomped their feet before breaking out to find their female partners and start dancing.

Brandon Flagg and Justin Butler stood in the foreground and danced individually.

Butler said he has learned a lot including social skills.

The lip sync contest put on annually by Anuszewski’s drama classes is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, on the school stage in the cafeteria.

The students and Anuszewski use the fundraiser to help buy scripts, costumes and set pieces for the high school spring dramatic performances, Anuszewski said.

This year, 13 acts have signed up featuring choreography and music from “High School Musical,” the 1980s and the 1970s. They’ll be judged by high school faculty, she said, according to originality, ability to lip sync and overall presentation.

Anuszewski said audience members should come prepared to laugh.

Senior football players will make a special appearance in one of the acts, she said.

Students Cameron Fry will be on the light-board and Sam Howes behind the scenes as stage manager.

If you can stand up in front of friends and do disco dancing, Flagg said, you could do anything.