School in Lancashire, UK Offers Dance Lessons to Teens and Children with Ataxia and Other Special Needs

Five months ago, dancing seemed only a dream for five-year old Amelie Seedall. She is diagnosed with ataxia at an early age, a rare genetic condition which makes speech and motor skills difficult for her. Her balance is also affected by ataxia and she relies on a walker to move about. But today, Amelie is one jolly soul in the dancing hall of Dansworks Dance Academy in Bacup, Lancashire. Months of special training gradually brought out the dancer in little Amelie. Her mother noticed improvement in her speed, balance, and body movement. Her coordination and cognitive skills were also improved by her dance lessons, which she happily takes every Saturday of the week.

Amelie is just one of the many inspiring stories the academy’s dance halls have been. Letitia and Jenny, both teenagers and with learning disabilities, have also shown great improvements through dancing. Jenny’s mother says her child just loves music and dancing and these things make her feel happily at home with friends in the academy.

The stories of Amelie, Letitia, and Jenny show that no dream is impossible for anybody—all we need are people who want are willing to give us the stepping stone to make those dreams come true. As Amelie’s mother remarked, Amelie would not have been able to learn to dance in ordinary classes. But with a handful of people who care, the little girl with ataxia is now a dancer.

A little help will change what people can do. There is no “cannot” for those who have the passion, says the principal of the dance academy. Not everyone can go to that same academy to learn dance lessons but sure enough you can help make the difference that your community needs to see.