As a teacher in a high school, I have the pleasure of volunteering as a supervisor for school dances. One dance stands out in my mind. Not because is was the most fun, the most exciting or the best attended- it stood out because one of my Life Skills students, who has a significant disability, attended the dance. I was thrilled to see her in attendance; I had encouraged all my students to go, yet she was the only one who came. When I asked her why she was leaving, she could no longer hold back her tears and said that no-one would dance with her. I was devastated, my heart broke for her. I vowed then and there this would NEVER happen again; I was determined to plan a dance where students with significant disabilities would feel included. The next year the Spirit Dance was born, that was five years ago!
The first Spirit Dance was at Cambie Secondary. Several students attended, yet they came from only a handful of schools. The following year, the dance was at Hugh Boyd Secondary; this was the first year we had Unity Club leaders along side our students; it was a turning point for the Spirit Dance. Each year the Spirit Dance has grown in popularity, last year it was at MacNeill Secondary and this year it was at Burnett. We now have almost every high school represented at the dance, as well as a large number of UC leaders who have been together with our UC members throughout the year. The Spirit Dance is our culminating activity. This year we also had district Unity Club turnout for our now annual Bowling Night and Movie Night. Next year we plan to add a BBQ Night… After that, who knows?!
There is something so very special when I stand back during the Spirit Dance and look out on a sea of teenagers all having a great time talking, eating, dancing and most importantly, feeling included. Life doesn’t get much better!
Unity Club 