Incredible dancer with Down syndrome pushes toward greatness

FOX 10 News | fox10phoenix.com
from FOX 10 Phoenix:
MAHTOMEDI, Minn. (KMSP) - Mikayla Holmgren has been dancing since she was a little girl. When she's dancing, she's in her element. Just like any other dancer, she's pushed to be great, and her instructor says there's nothing she can't do. She has Down syndrome, and that's simply not a barrier in front of her path to success. Never nervous, the 19-year-old has her parents to thank for her confidence.

“The more knowledge you have about our children, you realize that what you believed 20 years ago that they weren't teachable was not true,” her mom Sandi Holmgren said.

"She knows a lot more than she can articulate sometimes, so that's part of it and I think that shows up in the physical things; she can just perform,” dad Craig Holmgren said.

The last dance: Though her recital days are over, dancing allows graduate with Down syndrome to be one of the girls

by Britteny McNamara from Wicked Local Walpole:
On stage, Allie Iannoni gets her wings. Dancing tap and jazz, Iannoni’s eyes light up, she becomes confident, and her differences float away.

The fact that Iannoni has Down’s Syndrome doesn’t matter, all that matters is that she hits her mark, which she always does.

Iannoni has danced at K and M Studios in Norwood for 10 years now, and with her 21st birthday approaching next month she has recently aged out of the program. At her final recital last Saturday, Allie, of Walpole, said she was happy to perform with her friends, but sad to see the end of an era.

Up on the Westwood High School stage, Iannoni performed three numbers, one tap, one jazz and a final senior dance. Her father Joseph Iannoni said the senior dance was her best performance yet.

"I really loved to dance," Iannoni said. "I like being on stage, I like when people clap for me."

The final performance was a series of three recitals, one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one at night. With her dad in the audience for all three, Iannoni said she had a lot of fun.

Dancing away differences: Event draws awareness to Down Syndrome, other disabilities

by Mike Landis and Robin Yancey from KY3:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -

Shuffling their feet to the beat, kids (and kids at heart) demonstrated their dance moves.

“The kids- they are dancers. I mean, that is the one thing that everybody always says about individuals with Down Syndrome…they can boogie,’ exclaimed Gretchen Miekley, Executive Director of Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks.  The organization hosted a special ‘Spring Fling’ dance Friday night for individuals and families affected by Down Syndrome and other disabilities.

Down Syndrome, a developmental disorder, creates special hurdles for those like Khia Grey.

“I like going out and having a fun time with my friends,” she stated.

The event was a chance people with disabilities to forget about their challenges, and instead concentrate on being a kid.

Karrie Brown hopes to dance with Ellen Degeneres

from KSDK News Channel 5:
Karrie Brown's first day of school outfit went viral, resulting in not only thousands of fans but a photo shoot for a national clothing store.
The Collinsville High School Junior has Down syndrome and autism. A self-proclaimed fashion lover and aspiring model, Karrie's favorite store is Wet Seal. Her mother, Sue Brown, posted a picture of Karrie in her brand new threads on the first day of school August 12th and was flooded with responses about how great Karrie looked.

Soon enough, a family friend launched a Facebook Fan page displaying all of Karrie's daily school outfits.
Thousands of people liked the page and within a couple days Wet Seal was calling.
The retailer is flying Karrie out to California next week for a photo shoot.
Karrie is a teen who is constantly giving back to her community. She volunteers at her local YMCA and library branch. She also takes Zumba classes and Hip Hop classes because dancing is her favorite thing to do. Her love of dance has given birth to her ultimate dream -- dancing with Ellen Degeneres -- which has yet to be realized.

Woman With Down Syndrome Undergoes Painful Surgery On Feet In Order To Continue Dancing

from CBS Los Angeles:
A Van Nuys woman with Down syndrome is going through a painful surgical process on her feet in order to continue pursuing her passion of dancing.

Susie Schallert, 46, lights up on the dance floor.

“I’m a dancing fool. I am a lucky dancer. It is my dream to be in a show,” she said.

Susie, the youngest of 11 kids, is adored by her siblings.

“She’s taught me to be patient and kind. She’s taught me to go slow and not rush through life,” said Susie’s older sister, Patty.

In many ways, Susie was forced to go slow. As a teen, her feet stopped growing and bunions started reshaping her toes.

“They’re bad, they’re bad. She has toes on top of toes and bunions that look like golf balls on the sides, and the joints are gone. Can you imagine?” Patty said.

Susie’s mother, Mary, took her to the doctor.

She said the doctor brushed it off, reminding her that, at the time, the life expectancy of someone with Down syndrome was only about 25 years.