Just a heartwarming story...

[Sparkly]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/nyregion/05ballet.html?hp&ex=1146888000&en=1396cd02abcf084a&ei=5094&partner=homepage

The eight little ballet students, who have cerebral palsy and other debilitating physical conditions, are assisted in class by teenage volunteers with strong healthy bodies and infinite patience. The teacher is Joann Ferrara, a physical therapist who owns and runs Associated Therapies, where most of the girls go for treatment.

(snip)

For an hour a week, Veronica and seven other girls from Queens escape a world plagued by awkward physical motion and enter a room where elegant music is played and they get a taste of movement that is graceful, smooth, supple and refined. Ms. Ferrara teaches only the basics of ballet. The girls do not perform full pliés or pirouettes, and they are lifted for leaps. While she coaches the girls to lower and raise themselves and turn slowly, Ms. Ferrara constantly reminds them to smile and "be proud."

And even if the limbs do not obey, the dancers have absorbed the traditional ballet ethic of disciplined hard work. One day all too soon, they will leave their ballet lessons behind and will work simply to stand or walk or move without being too ungainly.

"I just want them to feel the sheer joy of moving and to be proud of themselves," Ms. Ferrara said. She began the dance class three years ago after hearing repeated laments from the families of girls she treated. "The parents all said their daughters wanted to take ballet like all the other girls, but no ballet schools would accept them," she said.

[babylonsister]

1. Awww, so cute! It's great the little ones get this opportunity. nt

[BOSSHOG]

2. Awesome little Buckeroos!

Thanks for posting.

[waiting for hope]

3. Thanks for posting this....

it's reassuring that there are people out there are are doing their best to provide hope and kindness for children with disabilities - this is a wonderful post especially after hearing this "States Underserve Disabled Foster Kids, Study Says" http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5383604 on NPR yesterday...
O8)

[Maraya1969]

4. Here I go with the tears again. Thanks for posting, it really uplifts

my spirit when I see people helping others - and I see so many novel ways lately.

[myrna minx]

5. Me too. This is truly a wonderful story.

:cry:

[BrklynLiberal]

6. A truly heartwarming story. Thanks for posting.

[Justpat]

7. I read it this morning.

I am basically a genuine curmudgeon, but this story made even me tear up.

[bleedingheart]

8. that is so sweet!!!

[progressoid]

9. :)

Thanks for a bright spot in my day.

[roguevalley]

10. oh, so cute. aren't they cute? goodness is around us. It truly is.

[northamericancitizen]

11. Thanks for sharing. We all need a minimum of 1 "feel good" story

every day.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. When sparkly showed me this story earlier today .......

...... I hadda walk away. It was putting chinks in my curmudgeon armor.

::sniff sniff::

[renate]

13. so sweet it gave me shivers

Every little girl deserves to feel like a princess.

That is a lovely story. Another nice thing is that those teenage volunteers are going to be forever changed by this work--and will continue to make the world a better place.