Friday, November 30, 2018
Vol. 78, No. 48
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Nonprofit helps kids realize their dancing potential BY GARY SIMEONE
Dancing is an art form, and a nonprofit organization that holds classes in Plainview helps disabled kids realize their dancing potential. Dancing Dreams opened in October at the American Legion Hall. Joann Ferrara, a pediatric physical therapist, helped launch the program, after a little girl in her office stated to her that she wanted to become a dancer. “One day, I had this little girl in my office, dressed in a tiara and tutu, who said to me that she wished she could become a dancer but nobody wanted her,” said Ferrara, whose practice is located in Bayside, Queens. “I felt so sad that a 4-year-old would say such a thing. That is what prompted me to start this program.” She said that the organization has a threefold mission which includes providing dance classes and performance opportunities for children aged 3-18 with medical and physical challenges, enhancing the leadership skills of the teenage volunteers, and providing community outreach and education in the area of disability awareness and tolerance. “These kids have physical and medical disabilities that make it hard for them
to move like a typical ballerina. Many of them are in a wheelchair and suffer from disorders like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and spinal muscular atrophy. Our teachers and volunteers work with them on basic skills, hoping to improve their movement and coordination.” The dance classes are held in three locations including the American Legion Hall in Plainview, at the Bayside office and at a dance studio in Manhattan. The classes usually average 10-15 students depending on the enrollment. Classes are taught by a licensed physical therapist and an assistant physical therapy teacher. Each child in the class is assigned a volunteer to help them with their dance movements. “That is what makes these classes unique is that every kid has a teenage volunteer by their side working with them,” said Ferrara. “It is beneficial to the kids in the class and also to the teenagers, helping them with their leadership skills.” The classes are held at the American Legion Hall every Monday. There are two separate classes, one from 4 to 4:45 p.m. and 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. More information about Dancing Dreams can be found on their website, dancingdreams.org.
Dancing Dreams participants enjoy dancing classes.
Photo by Hiroko Shono-Cheng
Town to offer free “Holiday on Ice” performance The Town of Oyster Bay has announced that the annual “Holiday on Ice” performance will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 15 at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center located in Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Avenue. Admission to the show is free. Students from the Town’s Ice Skating Program will perform an enchanting, holiday-themed skating exhibition and the evening includes an exhibition hockey game between the
Elves and the Reindeer, which are two teams comprised of players from the Town of Oyster Bay Youth Ice Hockey program. Santa Claus is scheduled to visit with children and take photographs. In the spirit of “the season of giving,” attendees are asked to bring two non-perishable food items for donation to Island Harvest, an organization committed to ending hunger on Long Island. Attendees are also welcome to bring
a new, unwrapped toy for donation to the United States Marines Toys for Tots Collection Drive which benefits local children throughout the community. “Holiday on Ice” performance attendees will also be offered an opportunity to take part in the Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which offers residents the opportunity to fill out free holiday greeting cards, available in the lobby, for delivery to troops in the United States Armed Forces stationed in the homeland
and around the globe. Due to the “Holiday on Ice” performance, public skating sessions slated for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., will be cancelled on December 15th. However, the Town’s two outdoor rinks, located at Marjorie R. Post Community Park in Massapequa and at Syosset-Woodbury Park will be open for visitors. Please visit www.oysterbaytown. com for more information or call (516) 433-RINK (7465).
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