A chance to dance

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DENVER - In the mirrors of the dance studio you see reflections of personalities set free by movement. About a year ago the owner Dancin Dreams studio, Karen Harris decided she wanted to open up the opportunity to dance to children who don't always get the chance.

"At a typical dance studio you have ballet, you have tap, you have the typical dances," says Harris. "You don't have classes for kids with special needs."

So she decided to make Dancin Dreams just that place.

Each Saturday it has become Olivia Posthumus's place as well. Olivia is four-years-old and has Downs Syndrome. She also has a smile that lights up a room.

"She's just a bundle of joy," says Olivia's father, John Posthumus.

Olivia was the first special needs student to enroll in the "Reach for the Stars" program. John remembers the first day he brought her to the studio and how she stood in the doorway for a long time before finally giving the class a try. From that day forward, dance became a part of Olivia's life.

"She is dancing at home, dancing in her classroom," says John. For Olivia, who is non-verbal, dance has become a way of expressing herself.

That chance for children like Olivia to express themselves was exactly what Harris had in mind when she created the program.

"Everybody is going to be different," says Harris. "Everybody expresses themselves differently but if you can take a step and put your own personality into it, then that is the beauty of dance."

The dance movements are kept simple. The goal is to let the children move to the music and have fun. They are encouraged to mimic movements that match the children's songs they dance to. In the months since the class began, the children have made great progress.

"Seeing her satisfaction of having done something," says John Posthumus. "She's got this little smile. I can tell when she's proud of herself and when she's really saying, I've done something."

If you want more information about the Reach for the Stars program you can go to www.dancindreams.com.