Hula-Hooping with a Wheelchair
I was teaching one of my after school “Hula-Hoop Kid-Fit” classes when a little boy in a wheelchair entered the gym and said with the saddest voice “I probably can’t do this class”. Enthusiastically I said “Sure you can! Let me get the class started and then I’ll teach you some tricks that you can do.” A few minutes later I returned to him and taught him some hand tricks and breaks that he could do while sitting and his face completely lit up. Then he said “Watch this! I just thought of a new trick!” and put the hoop around his neck like a necklace and spun his chair around until he had enough momentum to do the best neck stall I’ve ever seen. I’m so proud of his “Can-Do” attitude, his willingness to try and to expand how we all define “hula-hooping”.
For everyone who says “I can’t hoop!” or “I can’t (insert any word here) — Please give it a try – you might discover something new about yourself.
CARA ZARA – HULA-HOOP ENTERTAINER & TEACHER
CHARLOTTE NC – 704-540-1456
+++++++
Allegro Invitational 2010
http://www.allegrofoundation.net/celebrity_benefit.html
CELEBRITY GOLF BENEFIT AUCTION
September 8th, 2010
Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to mingle with local celebrities, for which all proceeds will go directly toward the 480 children with disabilities in Allegro’s more than 20 FREE movement education programs held throughout the area.
Event will be held at the Ballantyne Country Club and I’ll be helping the children with their exciting dance routine!
IMAGINE that you are a child confined inside your classroom, strapped into a wheelchair while your classmates play outside during recess. They have not invited you to join them because you cannot navigate your wheelchair through the playground. You are being denied the basic freedoms of childhood, and your peers may even tease you because you are different.
Sadly, the school district has identified more than 15,000 children with disabilities right here in Charlotte, North Carolina, that endure these heart-breaking obstacles in their daily lives.
NOW envision that you are a child with mental retardation who has just learned how to count by participating in a movement education class with kids your own age. Another child, your friend who has leg braces, is learning to trust his body and express himself through movement in your class.
Can this really happen? The answer is YES!
With the help of valued donors and friends, we are proud to announce that Allegro Foundation is transforming the lives of more than 480 children with disabilities in our community each year.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For Amber… The Autistic Girl I Dance with at Allegro Foundation.
One early morning as I was walking along the beach
I discovered a figure at a distance moving like a dancer.
As I got closer I noticed that the figure was a young girl
Maybe 9-10 years old and she wasn’t dancing.
She was reaching down to the shoreline
Picking up small objects and throwing them into the ocean…
As I came even closer, I said ‘Good morning, what are you doing?’
She paused a little out of breath, looked up and said,
‘Throwing starfish into the sea’,
‘Why are you throwing them back there?’ I asked,
She said, ‘The sun is getting hot and the tide is going out,
If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die’.
I couldn’t help saying ‘But there are miles of beach
And hundreds of starfish, d’you think it makes a difference?’
She gave me a very serious look and bent down picking up another starfish
And threw it into the sea,
As it splashed into the water she said
‘It makes a difference to that one…’.
2010 Special Olympics – Allegro Foundation
Today was the opening ceremony for Special Olympics. I am so proud of the students that participated today. They were all amazing and have worked so hard. Bravo to all!
ALLEGRO FOUNDATION
I volunteer as a dance teaching assistant to help the Allegro Foundation. Below is some information about them from their website - please consider supporting this wonderful organization!
+++++++++++++++++
IMAGINE that you are a child confined inside your classroom, strapped into a wheelchair while your classmates play outside during recess. They have not invited you to join them because you cannot navigate your wheelchair through the playground. You are being denied the basic freedoms of childhood, and your peers may even tease you because you are “different.”
Sadly, the school district has identified more than 15,000 children with disabilities right here in Charlotte, North Carolina, that endure these heart-breaking obstacles in their daily lives.
NOW envision that you are a child with mental retardation who has just learned how to count by participating in a movement education class with kids your own age. Another child, your friend who has leg braces, is learning to trust his body and express himself through movement in your class.
Can this really happen? The answer is YES!
With the help of valued donors and friends, we are proud to announce that Allegro Foundation is transforming the lives of more than 480 children with disabilities in our community each year. 15,000 children with disabilities in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district are waiting to receive Allegro’s vital intervention, but we need your financial support and the donation of your time and talents to teach them!
Allegro’s children with disabilities performed at the Carolina’s Panthers vs. Redskins football game in the fall of 2009!
3 comments