Dancing through life

Lindsey Hull knows inspiration when she sees it. As a dance instructor, she has worked with many local schools and has even helped UAB’s Golden Girls dance team.

Hull was never more inspired than she was as a judge at the national dance team championship on ESPN. As she judged the teams, she saw a group from Orlando, Fla. that included students with developmental disabilities. She realized that she could not think of a group in Birmingham that provided that opportunity, so she decided to create one herself.

Hull contacted the Exceptional Foundation in Homewood in August. The foundation began in 1993 to serve individuals with mental and intellectual challenges in the Birmingham area. A friend informed Hull that the foundation was looking for opportunities to expand programming for members ages 5 and up in the foundation.

Together, they developed a plan to start a dance team, The Magic City Sparks, through the organization. To do this, however, they needed community involvement.

“That part of the program is just as important as [having] the dancers,” Hull said.

Hull contacted Faith Lenhart at Vestavia Hills High School to spread the word about needing volunteers. Hull works with dancers at Pizitz Middle School and Liberty Park Middle School and has taught many students in VHHS’ dance classes. She felt confident that she could get some of her former students on board, but she still expected to have to ask other area high schools for help as well. Hull was surprised when she was told that VHHS would provide enough volunteers for the whole group. Thirteen dancers are on the team and Hull has 41 dance students from VHHS volunteering.

“I was overwhelmed with the reception,” she said. 

Practices are held each Wednesday and each dancer has a personal helper each time. With an excess amount of volunteers, helpers attend practices alternating every other week, but are always paired with the same dancer. 

Hull has also established several helpers as floaters to provide extra assistance, if needed.

“I think my students will learn acceptance and empathy. Many of them are interested in education and this is a great experience for them,” Lenhart said.

The team focuses on jazz and creative movement in its choreography. A small amount of ballet is taught at the beginning to provide a good foundation for other styles. The dancers range from age 5 to early adulthood.

Hull and the team expect to be giving performances soon. They will give a performance at a Vestavia Hills High School basketball game, a UAB basketball game and also compete in the UDA state dance competition in January.

“I wanted to provide a team atmosphere,” she said. “I’ve been a part of a dance team my whole life and learned so much from it… I think it’s important to learn how to work together for a common goal.”

Hull, the foundation and VHHS hope to continue to expand opportunities for special needs students. Lenhart would like to start a new dance class at VHHS for its special needs students.

“Any time that they are given an opportunity to be mainstream and do something that other children are able to do, it’s such a positive thing,” Hull said. “I feel like [dance] is a great way to nourish children’s self-esteem.”

For more information on the Exceptional Foundation, visit exceptionalfoundation.org.