Serra Stewart leading the Adaptive Dance program on Monday, Sept. 16. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

bustin a move

Free dance class helping those with developmental challenges

Sep 22, 2019 | 3:26 AM

NANAIMO — A new dance class wants to give everyone the chance to break out their best moves.

The Adaptive Dance class, run by Serra Stewart at Vibrant Studios, is specifically catered to those with developmental challenges. It initially started several years ago with City of Nanaimo funding but Stewart has brought it back on her own.

“It fills your cup, it makes me so happy,” she said of seeing a dance class full of people who might not have had the chance to experience the freedom of dance. “The joy they had of walking into the space with the music playing and seeing themselves in the mirror…it’s hard to describe.”

Each half-hour class is loose with a heavy dose of freestyle dancing.

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“Really we can do anything,” Stewart said. “I find it’s more about having music on and getting them to move in some way. It’s a pretty free idea of a class.”

Roughly eight people attended the class on Monday, Sept. 16.

Each person busted out their favourite move in front of the mirror. They then gathered in a circle and chose who would dance next after them. Crossing the floor was next. Stewart would walk across the floor with each dancer, letting them choose whatever dance they wanted. The class ended with some stretching and more freestyling.

By the end of the class, everyone was tired but none of the dancers left without a smile on their face.

Stewart said she’s excited to see the class grow however it can and would love to see her dance floor packed with students.

Adaptive dancing drop-in classes are free and run every Monday at 3:30 p.m.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit