Imagine learning to dance if you had weak ankles, floppy muscles,

a tendency to gain weight and difficulties balancing, concentrating

and remembering. People with Down's syndrome experience

all these problems, and many of them have heart defects or

other physical weaknesses as well

 

 

Barbara Newman introduces some children who are

 

Meeting the Challenge

Photographs by Howard Winter

 

Few disabilities mental or physical, can keep anyone from dancing if they accept the challenge of trying. Celeste Dandeker's well-­known CandoCo developed from such dedicated effort, as did Ronald Heavey's International Special Needs Dance Company. While Heavey has retired and his group has disbanded, a disciple of his named Angelina Alessendre is continuing the Work he pioneered, with remarkable results.

 

Introduced to her by a friend, I went to see both the weekly classes she teaches. One contains up to 33 children at a time. aged from 3 to 19; the smaller class consists of about 12 older pupils, who exhibit greater interest and flair for‑ movement. “I call those students 'performers,' because some of them will travel and give inspiration to others”, Alessendre says.

 

"We've been invited to Paris , Russia and Hungary , and I am eager to show their abilities abroad, particularly in Russia where Down's children are treated appallingly ‑most of themare simply abandoned in orphanages."

 

Trained at the Vacani School , to which she returned as a teacher after working for several years as a dancer. Alessendre began writing a syllabus for disabled children when she saw a dance demonstration by severely handicapped youngsters.

“Some of them were in wheelchairs and without limbs, so I thought it would he horribly sad, even grim, but the children were so happy, singing and smiling. The only thing was, I felt music should be XXXXXXXX . .

 

at the forefront of the class ‑ it was sort of in the background.

 

"Then I happened to see two handicapped dancers from Ron Heavey's troupe on television. The girl's toes were beautifully stretched, her legs were straight, and both dancers were so poised and danced with such feeling. Right away I thought, 'This is it. This is for me.’ ”

 

Having located Heavey through the BBC , she discovered he had already devised a syllabus for ballet. tap and modern dance to use as an educational tool for the disabled. He had also created a handicapped company that he guided around the world, changing the public perception of children with learning disabilities and letting people see that they could lead useful lives like anybody else.

 

Alessendre began teaching ballet classes for Down's youngsters nine years ago. acquiring pupils entirely by word of mouth. I am not trying to turn them into professional ballet dancers" she laughs. ‑I just want them to reach their potential. to become the best dancers they can be. Of course, it's incredibly hard work. I have to maintain eye contact and talk all the time to keep their attention, but I'd happily work with them eight hours aday if my voice would hold out. I think I am the luckiest person on earth,

 

 

One boy surprised me by turning two perfect cartwheels and then tossing his head in satisfaction, right on the musical beat. I was also surprised by the variety of steps the students had mastered, the elegant line the girls achieved in arabesque, and the genuine affection displayed by each pair of partners.

 

"Kneeling on one knee is treacherous", Alessendre told me, ‑because they can't easily stay upright and turning can be terrifying for the same reason. It is hard to do things slowly and to keep in time. But the important thing is not their dancing but their self‑esteem. Ballet helps them improve their posture, their coordination and their confidence ‑‑ even standing with their heads up and their shoulders held back makes them look more confident.

 

"I know how difficult it is for them, which is why I value every effort. Each one is a milestone to be cherished. What they're doing here is really like climbing a mountain, and every little step is important “.

 

At the end of the month, the older group will appear with various West End stars in the finale of a Celebrity Gala at the Prince of Wales Theatre inMarch [2001], all the students in the Alessendre Special Needs Dance School will present a two‑hour "Evening of Dance‑ at the Royal Academy of Dancing. Any funds these event raise will help support future travel and performances by the students, so I am writing both dates in my diary now ”,

 

“Because they want to learn and they never give up, I sometimes think I learn far more from them than they ever will from me “

Rather than confining the class to exercises, Alessendre ‑also choreographs short dance sequences that allow the students to respond to a broad selection of music. The class I watched began with a short barre of pliés, tendus, relevés, port de bras and toe taps to the front and side. and moved on to stretches and simple turns in the centre and then to a rehearsal of several of­ these sequences. Although infinitely patient and obviously devoted to her charges, Alessendre is serious about discipline, and her students know it. All of them worked hard for the full hour accepting her comments good‑naturedly and correcting their positions as she suggested.

 

Contact the Prince of Wales

box office, 0207 8395972.

 

For further Information,

please write to Ms. Alessendre c/o Barbara Newman at the Dancing Times,

All Inquiries will be forwarded