A pom-pon (French word referring to a small decorative ball made of fabric or feathers) is a loose, fluffy tuft of fibrous materials typically recognized for being shaken by cheerleaders and sports fans during athletic games. They come in a wide array of materials including wool, cotton, paper and plastic.

A man named Jim Hazlewood holds the copyright for the modern pom-pon, although the origins of the American pom-pon date back to the 1930s. Lawrence Herkimer first created the design that became the predecessor to Hazlewood’s version.

During that time high schools and universities began incorporating the poms into their routines to entertain the crowd and distract their opponents during games.

Today school and university dance teams utilize pom-pons to add color and showmanship to their performances. In addition, it is an added element to strengthen the idea of belonging to the team.

Kulik will teach user friendly steps and choreography for dancing with pom-pons.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.