A Valentine Dance

Photo Credit: Jenna Matthews

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By Erin Kidd, writer
February 28, 2010
Filed under Out & About

On February 22, Dr. Whitley’s Elementary Physical Education Class and Adaptive P.E. classes put on a Valentine’s Day Dance for the therapeutic recreation department for the special populations group.  The dance went from 7 to 9pm and a total of 28 Catawba students attended the event. Oldies were the music of choice, with songs such as “Shout,” “The Cha-Cha Slide,” “The Electric Slide,”and “YMCA.” The clients from the Therapeutic Recreation Department consist of multiple disabilities, such as mild intellectual disabilities, Down’s syndrome, as well as physical handicaps. The dance is a way for the physical education majors to give back to the community.  They also have the chance to work with all types of different people, different personalities, and people with different intelligences.

Elbert Branch, a student who attended the dance, shared his feelings about the dance.  Branch said it was different for him, because it was his first experience with the different handicaps, and he was hesitant at first. However, once he saw some people dancing, he went up to a client and started dancing, too. He said he enjoyed the experience and would like to do it again.

Another advantage to volunteering at the dance is that it prepares the students for real life in the education world and in the real world. It is fun and everyone participates and enjoys the dance, not just the clients. Jenna Matthews gave us a quote about the dance saying, “My particular favorite part of the dance is to see a different side of my fellow classmates. They continuously smile, and the look on their faces seems to be completely sincere when dancing with and/or helping the clients.”

The students in these classes not only put on this dance, but volunteer multiple hours individually with the Therapeutic Recreation Department during the week. They go bowling, make arts and crafts, cook, and more.

All in all, the Catawba students who attended the dance seemed to have had a blast. Lainey Edwards only had positive things to say about the event. “I thoroughly enjoyed dancing and serving at the Valentine’s Day Dance. It was a huge hit and very successful!! It brought a smile to my face to see everyone dance and have an eventful night! It is always great to be able to volunteer and work with a variety of people. It really was a blessing.”

I also spoke to Kaitlin Foster who said, “I loved volunteering at the shakers club dance, the expressions on the faces of those we were helping were priceless. It means more when you know what you are doing is for a good cause; you get more from the situation.”

The classes have a couple more big events coming up this semester including: volunteering at the Special Olympics (swim and track/field) as well as the putt- putt tournament held for the blind.