Former Rockette Brings Healing Dance To Kids Battling Life-Threatening Illnesses

SHELTER ISLAND, NY — The joy of dance can inspire healing of the heart and mind.

That's the message Lucille Naar-Saladino, executive and artistic director of MainStage Dance Academy in Greenport and a former Rockette, brought to Camp Adventure recently, to help children battling cancer and life-threatening illnesses, as well as their siblings.

According to its website, Camp Adventure, part of the Kids Need More Organization— a not-for-profit dedicated to enhancing the lives of kids battling serious illnesses and their families — "is a one-week sleep away camp that takes place on Shelter Island at the Quinipet Camp and Retreat Center."

Every year, the camp has a theme for the kids; the camp is run by volunteers, including the medical team. Camp Adventure is open to children ages 6 to 18; young people 17 and 18 can take part in leadership in training and counselor in training programs, which operate year-round. Even kids that are critically ill are able to attend, the site says.

The camp, Naar-Saladino said, was started by CEO Melissa Firmes-Ray and her husband, John Ray.

During her time at the camp, there were six separate groups, divided according to age, she said.

Naar-Saladino conducted a dance class for each group, complete with a warmup, which included stretches and isolations. Next, she taught them a few jumps, such as a pike jump and second position jump, and then, they went across the grass, since the classes were held outside under a big tent. She then taught them a very simple jazz/hip hop combination.

"The intention of the class was, firstly, to get the kids moving," Naar-Saladino said. "There were a couple of campers who were in wheelchairs and one had a prosthetic leg and told me they'd never done this sort of movement before. I tried to encourage them and told them they could modify the movements. And they did! Overall, my intention was to have the kids feel a sense of accomplishment and that they were no different that any other kid."

The goal was to give kids wings to soar and dream, she said.

"Hopefully, it gives a child back their confidence and makes them stronger physically and mentally," Naar-Saladino said.

Each class was 45 minutes, and six classes were held throughout the day.

The program was meaningful for Naar-Saladino, she said.

"Very simply, I loved seeing them have fun. And, personally, there is no better way to make yourself feel better but to give to other people," she said.

Patch photos courtesy of Naar-Saladino.