Camp helps children with autism get their groove on
EL CENTRO — As someone on the autism spectrum, Luke Reed is outside his comfort zone in group activities, such as sports.
However, as Kendrick Lamar shouted, “My left stroke just went viral”, during the Autism Support of Imperial County’s hip-hop dance class Tuesday, the 10-year-old El Centro resident threw his left fist in the air and found his groove.
Reed was one of about 20 kids, ages 4 to 15, who participated in ASIC’s first ever dance classes, which began July 2 and ended Tuesday. They were held especially for children with autism.
Held at Jete Dance Academy on North 12th Street here, the free classes served as a way for children on the spectrum to get a sense of what participating in a dance class is like.
The hip-hop classes were taught by Jete’s own dance instructor Anissa Rioseco, who said she taught the ASIC classes in the same manner that she does all her other classes.
“I just like being able to see all the kids enjoy themselves and express themselves,” she said. “I think parents didn’t think that the kids would enjoy it as much as they actually did. And now seeing it, they’re like, ‘Oh maybe this is something they can continue doing.’”
Reed’s sister, Jasmine, explained that, as a dancer herself, she and her family thought it would be a good idea to let Luke try out dance.
“There’s not a lot of programs for autistic kids, so this is one of them,” Jasmine said. “So we brought him in, and he loves it. Everyday he’s like, ‘Can I go to hip-hop, can I go to hip-hop?’”
Based on how much Luke enjoyed the ASIC classes, Jasmine said her family hopes to enroll him in regular classes at Jete.
“I’ve noticed he’s gotten out of his shell a little bit with his dancing,” she said. “It’s like he’s expressing himself in a way that he doesn’t know how regularly.”
Rioseco said that, while a number of kids with autism already participate in the dance studio’s regular classes, the ASIC classes gave kids on the spectrum a chance to feel welcomed.
“Parents thought there wasn’t an opportunity for them here, but luckily this studio is a very open-minded place,” she said. “They accept everyone here.”
The ASIC classes came about in part because Rioseco’s own 14-year-old brother, Santiago Gonzalez, would accompany her to Jete would wind up stepping on the dance floor and start spinning and jumping.
“He really liked it, so we thought maybe it would be a good idea to get them out of their comfort zones and get out their stimming in a good, positive way,” she said.
The instructor reached out to her boss at Jete about the idea of having a class especially for children with autism, and was immediately granted permission.
The studio opened its doors at no cost to ASIC for the month-long session of classes, as well for three classes during spring break earlier this year to test the waters.
Gonzalez’s mother, Luz Genel, said that a lot of the kids in the ASIC classes have already signed up, or are planning to sign up, to Jete’s regular classes.
“Our kids, once they get it, they get it,” Genel said. “You’d be surprised how good they are.”