ANHS Dance Team Teaches Children to Dance

Aliso Niguel High School's Dance Team worked with children who underwent a hemispherectomy, a medical procedure that removes or disables one half of the brain.

The dance team taught many of the children to dance during a workshop at Disneyland's Paradise Pier Hotel on Friday. 

For many parents, seeing their children learning to dance, laughing with their mentors and watching their child socialize was nothing but bliss.

Members of the dance team spent one on one time with all of the children and taught them several dance styles.

"I had one student who was nervous during the first half," said Jennifer Maggi. "Then she started to warm up and began dancing and giggling. Just seeing the kids reactions and the joy on the faces was enough for me."

One student in particular stood out to Cassidy Lewis.

"I had a boy named William who I was teaching today," she said. "I noticed that even the smallest things made him happy, such as kicking a balloon or ball."

Lewis said she would definitely work with the children again.

"The Hemispherectomy Foundation is a great resource for parents because they can meet other families who have children who also have undergone the procedure," said Don Barkley, who's 4-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, underwent the procedure. 

Choosing a hemispherectomy for a child can be one of the most overwhelming decisions a parent can make. Of those children they are considered "lucky" to even be offered the surgery.

"The surgery itself was much easier than the diagnosis," Barkley said.