May I have this dance? Is no longer hard to ask

Kearney Hub - Tuesday, April 10, 2007

It began with one young person who wanted to go to prom but didn't know the basics of dancing or the etiquette of asking a girl to dance.

After a request from Susan Rolfsmeyer, whose son Brian wanted to attend prom, Arc of Buffalo County started a dance class on Thursday nights for teens with developmental or cognitive disabilities. About 10 now attend. The class is one of several activities offered through Arc's Teens in Action program.

Brian, 17, and his friend, Andrew McAlevy, 16, both went to prom after attending the class and continue to be part of the class on Thursday nights.

Brian said he would have gone to prom anyway, but he learned such things as how to slow dance in the class.

"Of course I had fun at prom," he said.

McAlevy said he learned how to ask a girl to dance and how to respond if a girl rejected his request for a dance.

"It sounded like fun. I wanted to learn skills," he said of taking the class.

He said he would have been too shy to ask a girl to dance before he took the class.

Criss Salinas, a University of Nebraska at Kearney sophomore from Schuyler, leads the weekly class at UNK with help from other UNK student volunteers.

Salinas said he had never worked with students with disabilities.

"I didn't have experience with it. I didn't know how to react."

He said the class starts from the bottom, with simple dance moves. On a recent Thursday night, the students' dances included the Chicken Dance, "YMCA" and some country swing.

Suzanne Bochmann, a UNK senior from Red Oak, Iowa, said that the participants in the class feel more confident in their abilities and are motivated to be active in their community.

The UNK students seem to enjoy the class as much as the participants do.

Audrey Rowley, a UNK junior from Grand Island, said she has a good time and helping with the class has taught her how to dance, too.

"I look forward to every Thursday," said Kellie Prather, a senior from Grand Island. She said the class is a stress reliever for her.

"I love everything they say and do," Salinas said.

Connections have been made between the UNK students and their pupils. Some of the students went to Salinas' dance concert, and some of the parents ask questions about the UNK students' lives.

Mickey Meads, whose daughter Tatum has Down syndrome, said the college students are good role models.

She said there aren't many activities available in her hometown of Elm Creek for youths with disabilities, and the dance class gives Tatum a chance to be around other teens.

Tatum said "YMCA" is her favorite song to dance to.

Rolfsmeyer likes that the young people in the class are being healthy and socializing.

"It makes them bloom."