Lynbrook program helps special needs children dance to the beat

Renee Persandi wanted her son, Jason, to take dance classes, but could not find a studio that would accommodate his special needs as a child with Down Syndrome. Then, she saw a post on the website for the Carle Place School District’s Special Education Parent Teacher Association, which advertised the Branch Out Dance program in Lynbrook.

The program was founded by Kerrie Hall, an occupational therapist from Lynbrook, who wanted to teach hip-hop to special needs children.

“I started this because I wanted all kids to have an opportunity to thrive, feel loved and accepted for who they are, while being taught by instructors that are specialized and trained to understand their needs,” she said.

Hall then shared her dream with Lynbrook Deputy Mayor Hilary Becker, who suggested she host her classes at the Recreation Center. Becker said he was willing to help because he believed in Hall’s vision. “This is like a grand slam — you’re helping autistic children, children with special needs,” he said. “It was really an easy decision for me.”

Once that was established, Hall and her co-teacher, Julia Garvey, met with Jason and the other applicants. They then selected five students to participate in the program. “We purposely kept our class small to be able to give individualized attention to each student,” Garvey said.

By September, the students were meeting weekly to learn hip-hop style dance moves, while receiving their occupational therapy. As part of the classes, Hall and Garvey worked with the students on their motor skills, balancing, social skills, sequencing skills, memory, body awareness and learning rhythm. At the same time, Hall said, the act of dancing helped the students with their confidence, social skills and self-expression.

Those skills were on display on Dec. 1, when more than 70 community members gathered at To the Stage in Oceanside to watch the students’ progress at the program’s Winter Wonderland-themed recital. Each student showed off his or her hip-hop skills and they each had a solo performance. “It was the best feeling watching them dance beautifully and feel so proud of themselves,” Hall said. “Every single one of them really did an incredible job.”

To reward the students for their hard work, the Lynbrook-based Windjammer Promotions provided the performers and the staff with T-shirts, and the Rockville Centre-based Custom Awards Long Island provided each of the students with personalized trophies.

“It was such a special day for everyone involved,” Garvey said.

For the Persandis, however, this was only the beginning. Renee said that “without a doubt” Jason would be participating in the Branch Out Dance program again in January.

For more information about the Branch Out Dance program, visit www.branchoutli.com or email Branchoutofficial@gmail.com.