The idea of dancing in front of thousands of people isn’t scary at all to the 13 special-needs youngsters from "Heartbeat" who have been preparing all year long for the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
"I’m not nervous," says Natasha Brice, 23. "I’m excited. I’m going to dance to my heart’s content and always smile to the audience. I’m looking forward the most to meeting characters at Disneyland."
Brice and her Heartbeat teammates will represent Hawaii and the United States in the Special Olympics opening ceremony slated for July 21. The group will also perform at Disneyland on July 27.
For the past several months, the dancers, ages 14 to 28, have had practice entertaining before crowds at monthly fundraisers on Oahu. Working in partnership with Pizza Hut and Panda Express, and the K.E.L.I.I. (Keiki Education Living Independent Institute) Foundation, Heartbeat has raised $30,000 so far.
Renee Jung, who serves as Heartbeat’s coordinator, said the group is still $2,000 shy of its goal to cover the expenses of 13 dancers and three choreographers. Each dancer will be accompanied by at least one parent/chaperone, who will pay their own way.
Jung said her son Marcus, 21, can hardly wait to go.
"From the time he gets up in the morning, he plays his music on the TV, watches it, and dances all day and sings all day," she said. "I can make him do anything if I say, ‘You’re not going dance class if you don’t do this.’"
Heartbeat was formed in 2007 by sisters — Miss Hawaii 2007 Ashley Layfield and Miss Hawaii USA 2008 Jonelle Layfield — who were instructors at the 24-VII Danceforce, a Kaneohe studio directed by Marcelo Pacleb. Although the Layfields moved to the mainland in 2010, they continued to supervise Heartbeat, and will direct the dance team themselves at the World Games, the sisters said in an email.
Most of the Heartbeat dancers have developmental disabilities such as autism or Down syndrome.
One of their choreographers, Chesarey Fujimori, 19, said, "If you put the time out to give what you have, they’ll take it. If you give them love, they give you love right back. They’re amazing."
Compared to average dancers, her students are "pretty freakin’ good," Fujimori said, grinning.
Natasha Brice’s mother, Abraleen Keliinui, said her daughter has been with Heartbeat from its founding eight years ago, and has learned important social and life skills.
"It has helped her to be socially interactive, to express herself; it’s built up her self-confidence, her hand-eye coordination, her memory and accepting changes," she said.
Sometimes the dancers have to wait up to two or three hours before they appear in a concert, but have learned patience. Natasha Brice and the other dancers have learned to adjust to changes, which is a common problem for the developmentally disabled, she said.
Occasionally, there are "meltdowns" or tantrums, "but it’s not as often," Keliinui added.
"They’re excited to perform, and the key to it all is music and being allowed to dance. Also they have free time to express themselves in dance; they love to do that. They love the volunteers; the volunteers at 24-VII are great — they have the heart to help our kids."
Donations to help Heartbeat get to the Special Olympics can be made at gofundme.com/247heartbeat.
