Earlier this year I met a girl who has forever changed me. There is such a beautiful spirit that beams through her as she continues to dance through all of the obstacles she has been given. She sat in the back of my class and after asked if she could show me a dance she choreographed. She didn’t tell me about her disabilities before she danced, when I hug her at the end is when she told me all about herself. Such a brave girl!

Below is Betsy’s story, video of the dance she showed me, and info about her very 1st class teaching other people with disabilities!!!

Betsy Wager

At birth I was diagnosed as having Arthogryposis: For me, that meant that the tendons in my wrists and ankles were permanently contracted. The ball and socket joints in my hips never formed. Tendon tissue and muscle are my support from leg to waist. I underwent corrective foot surgery at the age of two, with the goal of straightening my clubbed feet to wear shoes. It was with the hope that I might be able to walk, although some doctors said it was unlikely. Before the surgery, I went through many sets of casts intended to slow down the tendon contractures. My mobility was pretty much nonexistent. As my parents relate I would sit up on the floor and with the cast as counterweight, play with toys in my reach, and if they happened to go beyond it; I would put my head to the floor, between my knees and cry till some one would help by putting them back near me. I’ve always been a dancer. Mom and dad relate that when I was 6 months old I would sit with my feet weighted down by casts, tape player nearby and dance in time to my favorite tunes, it made me so happy. And then at the age of seven, after years of physical therapy, I was able to walk unassisted. During my teen years I took as many dance classes as possible, between surgeries’ for scoliosis.

My EXPRESSIONS class will be for people who have disabilities who want to express themselves through movement and dancing. I’ll be teaching them a little bit of ballet, hip-hop, lyrical, jazz and musical theatre with help from Cindy Jones, currently teaching lyrical. Not all of my students may love to dance, but I want this class to help people find their own passion, encourage them to express their feelings creatively.

MISSION STATEMENT

Class is called EXPRESSIONS

(Bringing flexibility to boundaries)

Primary Objective; Enable students to express emotions through dance

Expressions will be an opportunity for those who have found limits in their strength or their movement; but who have the desire to express their feelings through dance.

Everyone should be offered the tools that allow them to reach out to others with this form of communications.

Upon being presented with the various modes of dance, each student will find movements that work with their individual abilities. Each will be encouraged to progress along the lines of their strengths.

The class instructors will be responsible for helping each student to find their own style and their own accomplishment. And to choreograph a piece that will showcase each students style and ability.

Dance is a gift to everyone that feels it in their heart. Dancing relieves anxiety, encourages camaraderie, and bestows a sense of accomplishment.

I would like to find others in our community who would benefit from dance in the same way that I have.

Class would be open to persons who are limited because of disabilities or age, but have the desire to show their appreciation for music through physical movements. Caregivers would be welcomed. (we would not be in a position at this time to handle hyperactively distressed students)

I want to teach the class, but have Cindy Jones as main co-teacher, Sherri as helper, see if anyone else wants to help out.

Hour class- age 7 to adult

Location Maricopa Dance & Fitness, 21596 N. John Wayne Pkwy, Suite 101, Maricopa Arizona 85139

Phone #(520) 431-6162

Email: questions@maricopadance.com

Website http://maricopadance.com/home.html

Love,

Betsy