Women with Down syndrome gain confidence through dance

From Ocala.com in Florida:

Nichole Miller, 12, has always loved dance. In the past, whenever her younger sister, Rebecca, 7, would practice or perform ballet, jazz and tap, Nichole was watching.

"She's watched her all these years, and you always see her in the background imitating her sister," said her mom, Donna Miller.

But Nichole is in the background no more.

She recently joined three other young women who, like herself, have Down syndrome and previously did not have the opportunity to take dance lessons.

Every Monday afternoon the girls meet at the Family Wellness Center for an hourlong class offered by Michelle Lemieux-Smith.

"I like dancing," said Vicki Christensen, 24, as she slipped on her new ballet shoes. She then lined up beside Lisa Shultz, 25, Jennifer Rabold, 26, and Nichole, and they arranged themselves in "first position."

After practicing their ballet walks individually, the girls were ready for the second half of the class — jazz and hip-hop. They joyously wiggled their hips and clapped their hands as soon as the music changed to a faster pace, eager to perform.

Judy Berthelot, caregiver for Lisa, said, "It's broadening their scope. It's letting them know there is something else out there they haven't done before."

Lemieux-Smith usually teaches dance to younger girls, up to age 7, at area child-care centers, but when she was approached by Dr. Dina Zanetti DeBolt, owner of the Family Wellness Center, with the idea of beginning a class for the special-needs girls, she agreed to give it a try.

"They are capable of a lot of things," she said she soon realized.

One of the dances they practiced was "We Go Together" from the movie "Grease." Lemieux-Smith said they will perform the dance during a show Dec. 19.

They also learned some new moves for "Dancing Queen," which they may perform at a recital at the Family Wellness Center in May, along with "I Feel Pretty."