East Central hosts annual special needs formal dance

(ST. LEON, Ind.) – Winter dances take place at many area schools but there’s nothing like the annual Snowflake Dance at East Central High School. 

All community members are invited to this formal dance and the stars of the show each year are those with special needs. 

It began several years ago after FCCLA teacher Brenda Osman was approached by a special needs student named Steven Duning. 

“He came to me and asked if we could have a dance for the Special Olympics group,” Osman said. 

Osman and her FCCLA students organize the dance that takes place every February. 

Sophomores Kelsey Kaiser, Charley O’Rourke and Kyleigh Dudley were the students who led the initiative this year. 

“Just walking around the high school during the school day, you see other students who have disabilities, and it is just amazing to get to know them and they are all really good people,” Kaiser said. 

O’Rourke added, “This just helps out everybody involved in special education and it gives them an event that represents them.”

Dudley jumped on the opportunity to organize the dance and called it an incredible event. 

Another unique part of this dance is that it’s not limited to East Central students. They welcome anyone in the area who lives with special needs.

The businesses who sponsor the event to make it free for attendees are St. Leon Skyline, Alig's Shell, Blimpie, Logan Supermarket, Lutz Auction Services, Bright Blooms, and St.Leon Floral.

It wouldn’t be a Snowflake Dance if a Prince, Princess, King and Queen weren’t named!

Brianna Everidge was named Princess and Perry Cassidy was named Prince. 

Kayla Nunez was named Queen and Jacob Rossler was named King. Here are there photos: