“I’ve seen parents in tears, because it’s often the first time they’ve seen their kids get up and dance.”
In one sentence, Imran Sumar pretty much answered the Richmond News’ question as to why the Spirit Dance is so important.
The dance, explained Sumar, is the year-end finale for Unity Clubs, which are run by students in several Richmond secondary schools to bring together teenagers of all abilities, both physical and mental.
All year round, Unity Club leaders work to break down barriers that allow the foundations of life-lasting friendships to be formed and confidence to be built up in its members.
“Many of them don’t go to the school dance,” said Sumar, now a third year medical student at UBC, who founded the first Unity Club at Richmond secondary in 2008.
“And the kids are so much better (for attending the Spirit Dance) when they graduate from high school; they have much more confidence.”
As well as the dancing, the clubs’ Spirit Dance will be an entertainment-packed evening on Thursday at Richmond Secondary, with a pyjama party theme including a red carpet; paparazzi; photo booth; face-painting; tattoos; pizza; talent show and awards for the best dressed and funniest dancer.
Anywhere between 100 and 150 students and resource teachers are expected to attend, said Sumar, who harkened back to the seed that was planted before the Unity Clubs grew into what they are now.
“I started the club because I noticed that, at lunchtimes especially, there would be things going on in the gym for people without disabilities, while the people with disabilities went off to the lunchroom, had their lunch and that was it,” he said.
“So, I took some friends to the lunchroom and we started making it more inclusive and fun. We’d have musical chairs or Pictionary or something going on. We built actual friendships.
“Once you spend proper time with someone, connections are made and you realize that, behind any apparent disability, there’s a person there who basically wants and needs the same things as you.
“Over time, it then became less about volunteering and more about just hanging out with someone.
“And that’s why I keep going with helping the clubs run. I want future students to feel what I felt. I think everyone, including the members, are better for it.”
Unity Club allows its leaders at each school to plan their own activities and events, with most clubs running one or two lunch hours per week at each school.
As a collective, the Unity Club hosts events throughout the year, allowing its members from different schools to build friendships through shared experiences.
Examples of events include movie nights, bowling nights, and, of course, the Spirit Dance.
The club runs in almost every high school in Richmond and has been active at Anderson elementary, led by Haley Borthwick.
Sponsor teachers include Eve Minuk, at MacNeil secondary, Clare Scott, at Hugh Boyd, Lisa Sugihara, at Richmond secondary and Lisa Zuccolo, Jana Lee and Margaret Jacobs at Burnett secondary.
