Boogying Buddies!
by ERICA FRIEDLANDER
Best Buddies Rhode Island
On Saturday, February 6, 2010 Best Buddies participants and their families from all over Rhode Island put their dancing shoes on and boogied the afternoon away! Held at Middletown High School (MHS), the 2nd Annual Boogie for Buddies provided an opportunity for chapter members to partake in an afternoon of music and movement.
The afternoon began at 11am, and as everyone poured into the cafeteria at MHS, Karen Massaro immediately engaged us in a 20 minute kickboxing workout. Energy levels were soaring, and the words, “I’m definitely going to be sore tomorrow!” echoed around the room.
With our bodies sufficiently warmed up, it was time to learn some cool hip hop moves. Erin Vardaro, a senior at Salve Regina University, taught this class with the help of Savaneeda Seng, a participant from Gaudet Middle School’s chapter of Best Buddies. Participants in this class will surely rule the dance floor any time they go out!
By the time noon rolled around, everyone needed to refuel their bodies. We took a short break from the workout classes for lunch and a spontaneous dance party. Jump ropes, hula hoops, Twister, and Nintendo Wii were available for people to make use of at their leisure as well.
But the biggest hit of the afternoon seemed to be the parachute! People young and old, and even those in wheelchairs, all held on to a part of the parachute and waved it up and down as two people ran underneath to exchange places with each other.
After lunch, a yoga class taught by Angela Santa, a Special Education teacher at MHS, was the perfect way to relax and stretch after all of the excitement that the morning provided. The chatter and laughter subsided as we rolled out some yoga mats, played music with the sounds of nature, and peacefully cleared our minds.
Refreshed from the calming effects of yoga, everyone was ready to get their blood flowing again. We danced the Cotton Eyed Joe and Electric Slide, and then it was a free-for-all. People from all chapters mixed and mingled, jump roped and hula hoped. The parachute made another appearance by popular demand and a riveting game of musical chairs ensued.
With over 100 people in attendance, Boogie for Buddies was a wonderful success! Thank you to all of the volunteers who generously donated their time and energy into making this day so enjoyable and memorable for everyone. Best Buddies Rhode Island is already looking forward to the 3rd Annual Boogie for Buddies next year and we hope that you are too! |
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