Let's Dance!
What does it mean to really belong? To feel accepted? To feel valued? To feel loved? For special needs families, finding this sense of belonging can be an uphill climb. After the extra 35-40 hours per week in care for a child with complex needs, finding different clubs, groups, and sports who understand your child can feel overwhelming and exhausting. When you find that niche, that sweet spot, it’s like the pieces all into place.
Sweet 8 year old Heartleigh was in need of a hobby to call her own. She needed something that was hers and something that she could do that she enjoyed. As usual, the CAN DO squad came in clutch! Pause joined forces with Encore Performing Arts to get Heartleigh involved in the Twinkling Stars dance class where she found compassionate teachers, peers with the same passion and a way to let her creative spirit out. This was the real deal! A dance class for kiddos from hard places, but one that mirrored what typical classes looked like - even traveling for competitions!
Heartleigh uses dance as a form of self-regulation to calm herself in times of stress, but she also has grown her tribe of friends including Twinkling Stars OG Rachel Fissette. Rachel’s mom, Francie, helped bring vision to the Twinkling Stars team to give her daughter a place to fulfill her passion of dance and now serves as the team mom.
“To be given the opportunity to be a part of this group’s lives and watching these girls grow in so many ways has been a huge blessing! They have developed such a sweet friendship and their confidence in themselves has grown tons. When they step on that stage, they hear the cheering and you see their faces light up, it is the best!! Being a part of this journey has given me a joy that fills my heart with so much love.”
Want to get your kiddos involved? Pause approved partner, Encore Performing Arts, is hosting an Open House on Wednesday, July 28th from 6:30-7:30pm for families to learn more about getting involved with Twinkling Stars. Families will have the chance to take a tour of the studio, meet the teachers and watch the Twinkling Stars perform! Check out the flyer below! For more information and to express interest, click HERE!
The CAN DO partnership between Pause and Encore’s very own Kristin McSwain and Terri Shaffner helped Heartleigh and Rachel find an outlet for their love of dance. Their niche. Their sweet spot. If that alone doesn’t make your heart swell, check out this video of them at competition! #GrabTheTissues Twinkling Stars - Shining Star
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
