Dance your heart out at the Special Needs Christmas Ball
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IDAHO FALLS — Dance your heart out and ring in the Christmas season with the Special Needs Christmas Ball on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Now in its third year, the ball was the brainchild of then-high school student Kenadie Anderson.
“I always wanted to work special-needs kids and then going to the school dances and not seeing many (if any) there and so that made me want to throw a dance for them,” she told EastIdahoNews.com.
Her parents, Matt and Katt Goodson, were inspired by Kenadie’s vision and were supportive.
“We let her know it would be a lot of work, but we were here to help,” Matt says.
He explains that Katt has worked with individuals with special needs for 20 years, so she was already familiar with the community.
Events like the Christmas Ball are important, Matt says. As Kenadie observed, the special needs community tends to be overlooked at school activities.
“As a parent of a special needs child ourselves, we saw firsthand that he was hardly ever asked to participate in school functions or dances,” Matt explains. “We just want this to be one night they feel included and not judged.”
He says the crowd currently is small, but last year had a better turnout than the first, and they hope the trend continues.
“We have a great time every year,” he says. “I DeeJay with my stage name of DJ Redneck Rick. We get out and dance with them. I’m not sure who has more fun, the hosts and volunteers or the people who attend.”
“I could not be more excited about seeing special needs kids enjoying themselves and having a great time!” Anderson says of her creation.
Workers, parents, caregivers and friends are all welcome to accompany the special-needs person in their lives. And “absolutely anyone” can volunteer or donate.
“We are even in talks with the big guy up north to stop by,” he says.
The Special Needs Christmas Balls will be held at Dance Tech Academy, 2633 East 14th North in Idaho Falls. The evening will kick off with dinner at 5:30 p.m. (Sponsored by Homestead Pizza and Bowling). Dancing (Sponsored by The Smith Group) will begin at 7 p.m. The event ends at 9:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to wear Christmas sweaters, but may come dressed as they wish.