The Beauty of Dance

by Rebecca Stanford

As a young girl, I like many owned a jewelry box which contained a ballerina spinning inside with graceful hands stretched out while dancing on her toes as if she were light as air. I was captivated by dancers who could move seamlessly with such grace and ease. As a child I did not realize how much effort, practice, and work went into learning how to dance. Nor did I think about how dance enhances, teaches, and impacts young lives with more than simply learning an art.

As many parents of children with Down syndrome do, I soon found out that providing opportunities for my daughter to discover her purpose and fulfill her potential would be difficult due to the simple fact that there are not many activities available to participate in. When my daughter was 4, I heard about a dance class for girls with special needs. The class began as a Culture-Action-Service Project by high school senior Jessica McNab with the assistance of Jaclyn “Valle” McNeal, then a high school freshman. Both girls were students at Tonie’s Dance Workshop and volunteered to teach the class while owner Tonie Bense graciously made a studio available.

There were several girls who participated in the class all with varying ages and needs. Many challenges and emotions were experienced the first year the group participated in the Workshop’s Annual recital at the Marina Civic Center: anticipation, fear, joy, and pride. They received a standing ovation from the crowd, affirming the accomplishments of both the young teachers and their special students.

After Jessica graduated, Jaclyn decided to keep the class going with the help of Nina Wolff. Jaclyn researched each of the disabilities the girls in her class had along with ways to help her teach them. Jaclyn has certainly gone above and beyond anything that could have been expected. What started as a high school project has become a passion and heartstring of a young dancer forever changed.

When I asked Miss Jaclyn about her experience with the class, she told me that seeing the girls form friendships with one another, come out of their shells and gain confidence, and learn the art of dance has been a beautiful experience.

I encourage everyone to attend Tonie’s Dance Workshop Annual Recital at the Marina Civic Center May 9 & 10, 2008. Lets show our support and thanks to Miss Tonie Bense and Miss Jaclyn “Valle” McNeal for the opportunity they give our girls to discover the beauty of dance and to celebrate the girls’ accomplishments. The special needs class will perform May 9, 2008, at 7:00 PM.

For more information about this class or other classes offered you can contact Tonie’s Dance Workshop at (850) 769-8169