Ravyn Boger’s face split into a wide grin as a member of the Heritage High School dance team pushed her wheelchair in a wide oval across the studio floor.
“This is Me,” the hit song from the Oscar-nominated film “The Greatest Showman,” boomed through the speakers. It was a fitting refrain for the Heritage Unified Dance Team, a blended group of special- and general-education student dancers.
“I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I’m meant to be, this is me,” rang Keala Settle’s voice, as the students lifted their arms in a wide flex.
Brenda Knight, who teaches the high school’s developmental and life skills students, approached dance coach Nichol LeBeau earlier this year to pitch the combined team. She was inspired by unified sports teams across the country, which offer special education students a chance to participate in sports with their nondisabled peers. They hope to continue the team with a second season next year.
The point is to build connections between students, showing students with disabilities that they belong, and showing nondisabled students the strengths and talents of their peers in special education programs.
“These guys treat them like friends and like people,” Knight said of the dance team members. “They’re making them feel good about themselves.”
And all kids love music, of course.
“Moving moves everyone,” LeBeau said.
Alexandra Parra, 15, is one of the students in Knight’s class. Alexandra called the dance team “really great,” and said she enjoyed meeting new people.
“It’s really great to learn new things and not be stuck in the same thing all day,” Alexandra said. “I’m really, really glad about this.”
The students performed at a recent winter pep assembly and at a regional dance competition. Knight said there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience at the competition, and the dance team’s pep assembly performance ended in an explosion of applause and screaming from the crowd.
Victoria Self, a 14-year-old freshman and member of the dance team, loved working with the special education students.
“I thought they were going to have a harder time understanding, but they grasped it right away,” Victoria said. “They did really good and are overall amazing with the dances.”
At a recent practice, 19-year-old Ravyn’s mom, Stacy Bolden, watched her daughter.
Bolden said it’s obvious her daughter is happy with these dancers, but the connection wasn’t immediate. She said it seemed like some of the dancers were afraid of the special education students initially and uncertain about how to work with them. Soon, however, she watched as the students built bonds through dance.
“I think everyone wants to be accepted,” she said. “I think it’s important for people not to be scared of them or shy.”
Annabel Grimes, a 15-year-old freshman on the dance team, admitted she wasn’t sure how the dancers in the special education program might act. She saw “they learn just like any other teenagers.”
“They’re just like us,” she said. “This is them and they’re not going to change that.”
Bolden smiled as she watched her daughter dance with the help of her partner. Ravyn has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair full time.
“I always feel like she’s meant to make an impression on people,” Bolden said. “She lights up a room no matter where she is with that smile.”
