Teachers find their rhythm for upcoming battle

The+lip+sync+battle+between+Aaron+Hayes+and+Brian+Turnbaugh+ended+with+Hayes+crowned+as+winner+with+Shut+up+and+Dance.+Hayes%2C+left%2C+and+Turnbaugh+performing+during+Battle+of+the+Bands+and+Vocalists+on+Oct.+24.

Photo by Nayeli Lara

The lip sync battle between Aaron Hayes and Brian Turnbaugh ended with Hayes crowned as winner with “Shut up and Dance”. Hayes, left, and Turnbaugh performing during Battle of the Bands and Vocalists on Oct. 24.

By Nayeli Lara, Online Production Editor

The success of “Lip Sync Battle”  has lead to two teachers matching up against each other on Saturday at Battle of the Bands and Vocalists.

WeGo Drama is hosting the event for the first time as a fundraiser, and as a way to give the stage to the talented acts at school. Funds will go to the club to help pay for the trip to represent the U.S.  at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in August.

“Battle of the Bands and Vocalists is just a fun way of showcasing talents, whether they be singers, actors, dancers, or just general performers,” WeGo Drama adviser Mark Begovich said.

Math teacher Aaron Hayes and English teacher Brian Turnbaugh were asked to participate and are excited for the chance to help out WeGo Drama.

“Obviously, it’s a great cause. Anything I can do to send some really great students on a once-in-a-lifetime trip is going to be awesome,” Turnbaugh said.  “If it just means I have to embarrass myself for two and a half minutes, I’ll do it.”

Neither teacher has done a lip sync battle before but the prospect of doing it isn’t new for Hayes.  

“My family watches ‘Lip-Sync Battle’ and some of the Jimmy Fallon stuff. We’ve always said ‘Hey, it would be kind fun to do’, so we talked about what songs we’d do. It wasn’t much of a stretch since I’ve already kind of pre-prepped for it.”

Mental and physical preparation for Saturday is crucial and both have formulated different ways to get ready.

“I’m going to have to double-check my choreography obviously, I’m thinking about carbo-loading because it’s going to be a lot of energy that I’m not used to putting out. I thought about taking a personal day Friday so I can get into the whole mindset of that, but my students are way too important,” Hayes said. “I’m going to spend the whole morning just playing “Dance Dance Revolution” on my kid’s game station so I can kind of get warmed up for it. I’m going to have to get a separate hotel room because I am going to be playing the song I’m lip syncing on continuous repeat.”

Meanwhile, Turnbaugh is taking a more subtle approach.

“I think I really have to separate myself from who I am and the performer on stage. Although I’m actually not singing I do have to actually have some semblance of rhythm and make sure I’m clear on what the lyrics actually are,” Turnbaugh said.  

Going into the performance, both teachers will have to be ready for whatever may come.  

“I wonder if he has something up his sleeve, in terms of extra theatrics. I’m going to really have to think about what I might have to do on stage to really up my game,” Turnbaugh said.

Both performers have decided to keep their song selection secret, but have big expectations for their act and hope to have fun.

“I hope it will come across as epic and as mind blowing as I have it in my head,” Hayes said.

As well as the lip sync battle, students will perform. The acts are lead by juniors Jessica Garcia, Grace McLean, Megan Graal, Emily Bono; sophomores Daniel Weber, Alexis Perezchica, Kenneth Correa, Jose Ramirez; and freshman Mikayla Vincente.

The event will be on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.  The price is $10 for adults and $5 for students.