Downs dancers becoming Zumba instructors
BREAKING down barriers and giving anyone a reason to feel welcome and successful is all in a day’s work for ‘Zumba with Tracy’ and ‘Allabilitiesdanz’ entrepreneur Tracy Hanna. From babies to aged care residents and people of all abilities in between, Tracy guarantees that absolutely everyone can get something out of her programs.
“I have made my business Zumba with Tracy and Allabilitiesdanz fully inclusive,” Ms Hanna told Dubbo Photo News.
“To me, inclusion is extremely important, it should just be a part of everyday life. I feel like Dubbo is all over that.
“I teach a lot of special needs clients, a lot of seniors in aged care facilities and a lot of babies and pre-schoolers. I like to bring
Left:
Lincoln Ross and Tracy Hanna.
Far right:
Emily Gardner. them all together inclusively, so I have modelled my business around that,” Ms Hanna said.
Recently, Tracy has made her classes even more accessible, with a new 12-week Zumba class that runs every Thursday night.
“I had already set up the program on a Monday night, but I wanted to expand it. A lot of people can’t afford to come – a lot of the special needs clients – so I applied for a grant through the Fundability Scheme through Northcott and I was lucky enough to get a grant from them.
“What I have been able to do is set up a program that goes for 12 weeks and I’ve invited 20 ladies from the community and 20-plus guys with special needs to all come together and to do three months’ worth of free Zumba classes on a Thursday night,” Ms Hanna said.
“Everyone is coming together, and they are making new friends and they are encouraged to talk to someone new. A lot of the special needs clients are coming in now and they are recognising the community ladies and little friendships are forming – they’ll give each other a hug or a high-five. It’s just really, really cool,” she explained.
“I am super grateful to them (the Fundability Scheme through Northcott) because there are 40-50 people that are just getting so much out of this. The feedback I am getting is incredible. It is just a room full of happiness.”
And the theme ‘all abilities’ doesn’t just stop at her clients. Tracy has hired Lincoln Ross and Emily Gardner, who both have Down syndrome, to be co-instructors at some of her classes.
“I have already flown to Sydney with Lincoln and he has done his basic Zumba training, so he is actually a qualified Zumba instructor,” Ms Hanna told Dubbo Photo News.
“And we have got Emily booked in to do hers in early July. I am flying to Sydney with her so she can do her training. So, she will be a qualified instructor as well, which is really, really cool.”
Once Emily has completed her training, that will make both her and Lincoln two of only a few people with Down syndrome in Australia who are qualified Zumba instructors.
Lincoln told Dubbo Photo News that he loves to “dance”, “Zumba” and “wiggle”, demonstrating the moves as he spoke.
“Dancing” is what Emily enjoys the most and her mum Cassie Gardner told Dubbo Photo
that Emily loves staying in motels and going out for brekky; so it is safe to say that her trip to Sydney will be a highlight.
As well as the personal fulfillment for Lincoln and Emily to be doing something that is benefiting community members, it is also an inspiration for other people with special needs to see them up on the stage leading everyone else.