Miracles in Motion Spaghetti Dinner
Saturday, March 14
Shady Grove United Methodist, Mechanicsville
Two dinner seatings :
5:00 to 6:15 or 6:45 to 8:00
Enjoy an old-fashioned spaghetti dinner with very special entertainment from the Miracles in Motion Dance Troupe students. Visit miraclesinmotionva.org to purchase tickets ($10 each) or to make a donation.
Miracles in Motion Dance Troupe: Celebrating Dancers with Unique Abilities
Kim Moncrief held her first Miracles in Motion Dance Troupe class in 2007 for a group of five students with special needs. She was working for a local dance studio at the time, and the school graciously allowed her to hold classes there. “I had a big idea of what I wanted to do and a specific long-term goal,” Moncrief said.
In 2012, Moncrief was ready to go out on her own; the program had tripled in size. To serve the class participants who are ages three and up, Moncrief also knew she would need lots of volunteers to guide them during classes. She quickly found helpers coming from all directions – VCU dance and therapy students, friends of dancers, friends of friends, companies like Verizon. “We actually have more assistants than dancers now, which exceeds my ultimate goal of having one-on-one assistance,” said Moncrief.
Miracles in Motion offers a variety of dance classes and structures for those with disabilities. “Everyone takes company class,” said Moncrief. “They all learn the same production number for performances, and we work on skills like jumping, skipping, turning, balance, taking turns, and even simply standing in line.”
Students enrolled in company class can also take specialty classes, which include tap, ballet, and an exercise class much like a workout class at the gym. Additionally, students who are able to do more by themselves and practice on their own at home can schedule private lessons. Children learn solos and delve deeper into their favorite style of dance to work at perfecting their skills.
In August of 2014, Miracles in Motion received nonprofit status. Donations to the organization are now tax deductible, opening doors for more avenues of giving. “We have many volunteers from Verizon,” said Moncrief. “When they volunteer a certain amount of hours in a quarter, Verizon donates $750 to the organization. We are now eligible to receive those donations.”
To fund their second annual recital and the cost of additional needs for the dance troupe, the organization is taking a more traditional approach by hosting a spaghetti dinner for the community this month. “The church has graciously donated the space for the eveningTwo , Giovanni’s restaurant will be providing the entrees, and Williams Bakery is donating the bread,” said Moncrief.
The dancers will assist with serving, greeting, and seating throughout the evening. “They are the priority and this is another way to help them develop new skills,” Moncrief said.
And of course the evening wouldn’t be complete without dance performances. “People are surprised at how good the kids are and that they are all moving in the right direction, jumping, and turning,” said Moncrief. “It is great to educate the community and show that if you just give them a chance and a little time, they can do it.”
Read more about Miracles in Motion in the March 2015 issue of RFM – on stands soon!
