The Sentinel-Record - HER - Hot Springs
Taking the Stage
Program helps children take on the challenge of dance
The value of extracurricular activities in the arts for a child growing up is immeasurable. They encourage social skills, boost self-confidence and offer a creative outlet for children to express themselves.
I Can! Dance is a program for children with disabilities in Arkansas that gives them the same opportunity to learn and love the art of dance.
The program was founded by Julie Mayberry when her daughter, Katie, asked if she could take dance classes like her big sister, Ellie. Katie was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair for mobility, but Mayberry saw there was nothing to keep her daughter from this dream.
“She was almost 3 years old when she asked me if she could take a dance class,” Mayberry said. “I told her when she turned 3, she could start taking dance thinking maybe she would forget. Sure enough, when she turned 3 she asked about taking dance classes, and why shouldn’t she?”
The beginning, Mayberry said, was tough getting parents interested in the program.
“They all thought it was a great idea, but some were hesitant,” she said. “When I told them it was free, the classes filled up quickly.”
There are now branches in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway and Hot Springs, and Mayberry hopes to continue to expand to other parts of the state. But with enthusiastic instructors and studios, that goal will be easy to reach.
“These children are rock stars,” said Patty Tackett, owner and instructor at Dance City Studio. “There are no limitations to what they can do in this program, and you can see how much they love it in every class and performance.”
Tackett, who has been teaching dance for almost 15 years, said she jumped at the opportunity to bring the program to Hot Springs.
“I have a close friend whose granddaughter is autistic, and she told me how much her granddaughter wanted to take dance classes like her big sister,” she said. “When I found out about I Can! Dance, I knew I wanted to bring it here.”
This was the program’s first year in Hot Springs, with a turnout of 14 dancers. The classes are free to parents because of funding through Community Connections in Conway.
The program also involves volunteers from other dance classes to help as “dancing buddies” to the students.
“The buddies are a huge part of our program and the dancers love them,” she said. “They do everything from assisting dancers in the movements during performances to helping keep them encouraged and focused. The bond between dancers and buddies is precious.”
Mayberry said it was important to have dancing buddies not just for the students, but for the buddies.
“By giving children without disabilities the opportunity to work with children with disabilities, it gives them a whole new perspective,” she said. “This shows them all that
children with disabilities can do.”
Tara Adams is the development director for I Can! Dance and an instructor for the program in Conway. She said the program, which started with just a few small classes, has now spread through central Arkansas and is continuing to grow.
“This ultimately gives children a place to develop lifelong friendships and a love of dance,” she said. “Not only do the performance opportunities benefit the children, but it also shows the community that these dancers have nothing holding them back.”
But as much as I Can! Dance benefits dancers, Tackett said the opportunities it offers the parents are just as important.
“It really is two-fold,” Tackett said. “The students get the fun experiences that come with taking dance classes and the parents develop a support system amongst each other.”
The program offers parents the chance to enjoy time with their children and capture those moments that every parent dreams of when they have a child.
As for Mayberry, the I Can! program is branching out into more areas based on different children’s interests.
Whether they want to play soccer or take an art or music class, Mayberry said she wants to give children with disabilities everywhere the same opportunities because they have the same dreams.
“These children are rock stars. There are no limitations to what they can do in this program, and you can see how much they love it in every class and performance.”
Patty Tackett, owner and instructor at
Dance City Studio
“I applaud Julie because she has single-handedly touched so many families across the state through this program,” said Tackett.
The program just wrapped up its spring session with a recital at Horner Hall on June 2. Sessions are typically eight to 12 weeks long, with the next session starting in the fall.
Tackett said that, because of the response she got this year, she expects she will have to add more classes with different age groups. But for now, she said the support from the community is exciting to see.
“We’ve actually had to turn away volunteers because we’ve already got so many, and what a great problem to have,” she said. “We have such a unique city with such a strong support for the arts. We’re really blessed with how the community has embraced it.”