American DanceWheels at Widener Memorial School, Born this Way Lipdub

My Heart Sunk by Melinda Kremer
The voice on the other end of my phone sounded apologetic even before she got the words out. It was bad news! The students from Temple would not be joining the Widener students this semester, because the new schedule conflicted with the timing of our dance classes. The Professor assured me the change was not permanent, and she was sure her students would be available again in the Fall. My heart sunk! I was transported back to the first couple of years, when standing partners were impossible to find, and our program was struggling to stay alive. In two weeks, 27 Widener students would be returning to school after Christmas vacation, ready to partner dance, without partners!
What happened next was really unexpected! After my initial melt down, I knew we would have to adapt. We scrambled for the best option, and came up with a lip dub project. KZbin was filled with schools across the country showcasing lip dub performances, so we knew it would be a winner with the kids. We picked the perfect song, and basically let the students do their own thing, within a loosely choreographed framework. A handful of standing people consented to help us with the project, and even wound up dancing with us. Our objective was to make the experience social, physical, and artistic! The craziest part of the story is that everyone grew from the experience. The students became more confident, creative, and assertive. And we were treated to an expanded view of our students, dancing, playing sports, and socializing. The video is not the best quality. But if you watch closely, you will see the camaraderie, excitement, and joy, that every student with or without disabilities feels, when they are together, having fun! Enjoy!