From moon-walking to a pop-and-lock, the students in the life skills program at Kelowna Christian School can do it all.
Their dance moves can be found on the , created by life skills educational assistant Ryan Price.
Price started the account so the community could see how instrumental dance is in the positive growth and development of the life skills students.
害羞草研究所淒ance is a really good creative outlet and expression for these students,害羞草研究所� Price said.
害羞草研究所淔or some of them, it害羞草研究所檚 hard to articulate their thoughts or express emotion. So I think dance really helps to do that. It helps with their creativity and you get physical exercise.害羞草研究所�
One student who always steals the show is Jayes Derriksan.
害羞草研究所淚 like to have all of the people go around me and I always like an audience,害羞草研究所� said Derriksan.
The Grade 9 student has had a knack for dancing and finding the beat since he was very young, according to his mother Suki Derriksan.
害羞草研究所淗e was born with Down syndrome and from an early age he was very curious and very expressive,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淗e was (always) able to move in his environment really easily and he really loved music害羞草研究所�.. all types of music.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE:
Tree dancing in a Vancouver Island Sitka spruce
Also a lover of music and sweet moves is Price who saw dance as a teaching tool for his students like Derriksan, who have what is known as a diversability.
害羞草研究所淥ver the years, the students and kids I害羞草研究所檝e worked with love being on camera,害羞草研究所� Price said.
害羞草研究所淚 just had a lot of positive feedback from friends and family about these fun videos we do and people suggested getting a YouTube channel or Instagram account. It does give them a good platform, it promotes inclusion and they love it.害羞草研究所�
According to Derriksan害羞草研究所檚 mother, children with diversability are often challenged by the big world that surrounds them and a majority won害羞草研究所檛 be able to participate or perhaps even be invited to participate in certain cases.
害羞草研究所淗aving program in a school that has life skills, that has an ability for them (the children) to be exposed to everything and understand they can have a part of it, and to be very kind with what the teachers and the aids can offer them is really important (sic),害羞草研究所� explains Suki.
When Suki first heard about the Instagram account she wasn害羞草研究所檛 really sure what it was, but trusted Price and could see that her son was eager to participate.
害羞草研究所淲ith the Down syndrome we have with Jayes it is also an opportunity to have a community and if there are things that we can do to that help the greater community we are 100 per cent behind that. And Jayes is not shy, he loves music and he loves to dance.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE:
Cambodian dancers perform on Canadian tour
He also loves the time and attention he gets from Price while in the life skills program.
害羞草研究所淗e is really good with me. The first time I came to school, Mr. Price just took me in,害羞草研究所� said Derriksan. 害羞草研究所淢r. Price is my bro, he is always by my side and never leaves it.害羞草研究所�
The two are a great pair on the dance floor and in the community where they are slowly being recognized.
jen.zielinski@bpdigital.ca
Like us on and follow us on .
