[Callers] Re: Ideas for teen dancer with cerebral palsy

Middle school is all about learning emotional management. Dancing is about community and the joy of being and moving together. I’d prioritize the joy over the movement and even the together. Find out as much as you can in advance from parents, staff, or the kids themselves. How able are they? Have they ever done any kind of dance, music, or moving to music? Do they like or tend to avoid being the center of attention because of being different? Some people don’t like being celebrated; others do. Things to try: Simple dances with long figures. Half-tempo dancing (doubling the counts per figure) Separate group or partner for the CP kid(s), who just move ad-lib with the music, next to the set. Sitting and clapping or using a percussion or other instrument. Sitting and taking pictures or video of the group, or otherwise being involved. Being included may be more important than dancing. —jh— On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 1:36 PM dpalmerquay--- via Contra Callers < contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net&gt; wrote: