Written By: Owen Weems, Editor in Chief, and Allurabella Chandler, Staff Writer
JOYOUS: Old friends and new companions alike dance and sing at this year’s Holiday Dance.
Walking into Arlington’s auditorium, the members of Bear Pals, Poly’s most loving club, were greeted by a crowd of smiling faces and some of the 2010s’ catchiest pop hits. With the dance floor just a few feet from the entrance, enticing everyone to show off their best moves, it is unsurprising that the Holiday Dance, hosted by Arlington High School’s special education staff, was a great success. By bringing students with disabilities and their respective clubs together from all across the district, the Holiday Dance helped old friends reunite and made it possible for all the students to have an amazing time. Whether looking to sing along to nostalgic-filled songs, dance to the rhythm of the Just Dance on screen, or draw in festively themed coloring books, there was something for everyone.
The Holiday Dance is a relatively new tradition in RUSD that has caught on like wildfire in the district. While there are many school-wide events that Poly holds and a couple of cross-district activities that have been going on for years, the Holiday Dance offers a fresh new approach to getting students from all walks of life together to have fun, forgetting about all of their prejudices and teaching everyone to be more empathetic towards all of their peers. Mrs. Murtagh, the coordinator of the special education department and teacher advisor for Bear Pals saw the Holiday Dance as a great opportunity to give her students a chance to take part in the events they rarely get a chance to take part in, and most importantly, have a ton of fun. So, on November 22, Bear Pals packed into a bus and started on their way to Arlington, of course being careful to buckle that seat belt just in case.
The space had been set up to accommodate every student, even those who were in wheelchairs or needed a quiet space to relax. Arlington was very accommodating, keeping the environment safe and comfortable for everyone. The care they put in was reflected, as people danced freely and excitedly greeting each other dancers, who were friends and new faces alike. “I got to see some friends I hadn’t seen in a while. We did our secret handshake and had a great time, Beckett Sullivan (12) explains.
The dancing was by far my favorite part of the day. Students freely intermingled with students from other schools and danced to their heart’s content, unburdened by feelings of embarrassment. People felt safe to be themselves; the true strength of the Holiday Dance and clubs like Bear Pals is that they help foster connections and empathy between all peers, allowing for a space where compassion takes the reins. The dance was split into two sections: 1) the free floor portion where people were open to dance however they pleased and 2) the Just Dance portion where people were implored to dance along to the instructions on the screen.
The free floor portion left the decisions up to the dancers themselves. They could feel the music and follow the rhythm in any way they pleased. Darren, a member of the Project Team, used this opportunity to lead conga lines around the auditorium, amassing a train of dozens of enthusiastic dancers. Jonathan Viene (12) noted that “the environment was [he] was comfortable to be himself. [He] didn’t feel self-conscious in the group.”
The Just Dance portion was many people’s favorite and got the entire audience stomping and grooving to pop classics like Underneath the Tree and YMCA. There was a loving acceptance of everyone’s dance skill, and as Jonathan puts it, an excitement “to be grooving to the music with your friends.”
The Holiday Dance was a great success. The Bear Pals students may not get the chance to go to traditional dances like prom and midwinter, so the Holiday Dance gives them a chance to participate in something that is unique to them. Bear Pals opens its doors to anyone who would like to take part in events like these. All they ask is you leave your prejudice behind you and look for the best in everyone.