Dancing can be an art form of pure joy.
Now, a new program in Victoria is offering disabled kids that joyful feeling, to Dance Without Limits.
Joanne Cuffe is leading a small class in this new, free, program.
“It’s a chance for young people…ages 5 to 15, to dance without limits” says Cuffe.
“It’s inclusive for anyone with disabilities.”
“Dance Without Limits” is an adaptive dance program, being offered for the first time in Victoria through the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC.
Held at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre, the dance class has been going for only a few weeks, and Cuffe is hoping it will continue to grow.
“The program in Surrey” explains Cuffe, “…it was small to start, and it took a while to gather up folks and spread the word…
“So we can still have more, more join us in the next couple of weeks…”
Young Brooklyn’s Educational Assistant Bonnie Pike knows how much this class means to Brooklyn.
“The school she goes to, we don’t have any sort of dance programs, and I know for her it’s hard to find a dance class that fits her needs…”
Brooklyn wholeheartedly agrees “and I wish all of my [school friends] were here, to see me dance…”
Volunteer Tiahna Moorthy sees the many benefits of this inclusive setting.
“It’s not just about dance, but also, yeah, that social aspect, and having an opportunity to have leadership in the classroom…
“It’s all about providing a life without limits for kids with disabilities.”
Adds instructor Joanne Cuffe “there’s been a fair bit of research done on the benefits of dance,
“from physical, emotional, psychological, to social, etcetera…”
And, Cuffe adds, “it’s coming from within ourselves, and how we want to move, how we like to move, and learning new ways to move too.”
Dance Without Limits welcomes more participants, and more volunteers, to their weekly class.
Click here to learn more.
