Shining Stars: Inclusive Dance Team Empowers Girls with Special Needs

0:00Local headlines in two minutes or less, you're tuned in to Birmingham News today. Impact Dance Arts in Alabama runs the Shining Stars, an inclusive dance team for girls with special needs. The group performs and competes across the southeast, letting members enjoy the same stage time as other dancers. A local news team visited after viewers shared tips about the studio. The team formed when families wanted their daughters to join dance with friends. Studio owner, Rachel Mandel, made it happen, creating a space where everyone fits in. No one gets left out, and they practice routines like lyrical and jazz together. One dancer, Ali Lovell, shows the real change. She did not walk until age four, but now performs with the team and collects trophies. Her family says dance helped her gain confidence in trying new things. The studio builds on a local tradition from longtime instructor Mrs. Joy, who taught many generations before retiring. Rachel carries that forward with a focus on support for all.

1:00Through shining stars, the dancers build skills like bravery and a sense of belonging step by step. The team keeps growing and shining on stages everywhere. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible. Layback, press play, let the pillow do the rest. Sound meets comfort, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.