iCan! Dance Studio

Nine years ago my former co-host, Julie Mayberry, and her husband Andy gave birth to their second of four children, Katie Faith Marie Mayberry. Andy and Julie knew full well before Katie was born that she had Spina Bifida but they were determined to give her the same life experiences as their other daughters. So when Katie was three and wanted to dance they went looking for a studio. But no one was equipped to teach a child in a wheel chair how to dance...so Julie started her own and called it iCan Dance.

Today Julie and a host of “able-bodied” kids help teach dance to all sorts of special needs kids from all across Arkansas. Until now all their classes were held, when space was available, in a middle school gym. But during the months of February and March Beautiful Feet in partnership with KARK will build Julie and iCan Dance a studio of their very own!

And we need your help! In this mock up from architect Scott Smith you can see the two phases of the studio. The first is just over 1,600 sq. feet the second will add a dance and performance floor and add another 1,200 sq. feet to the project. Already we’ve seen donations of money and material pour in and feel confident we can make the dreams of special needs dancers all across Arkansas come true!

But more than just dance this will be an arts and resource center for all sorts of special needs children and their families! For more information about iCan Dance and to donate on line you can visit www.communityconnectionsar.org.

Wednesday, Jan. 25th KARK helped us break ground on the facility. We were live on KARK 4 Today from 5-7am celebrating the launch of this great ministry project.

On hand we has Jody and Sherry Spann from Spann Construction who are donating much of their time and talent to contract this studio.

Also on hand was Susie Everett of Everett Buick GMC who was more than happy to donate 5,000 to the project. Susie was joined by several of the dancers and the current Miss Teen Arkansas USA, Amber Mitchell.

This Girl Scout Troop donated money to help buy a monogrammed brick for the patio entrance to the iCan Dance Studio. And they weren’t alone. Several groups and individuals donated to the cause and the local Lions Club even raised $2,500 for a decorative bench!

Businesses such as Ridout Lumber company, Robert Shearer plumbing, Erik Menzie framing, All Seasons Roofing, Wilson Home Improvement and contractors Mike & Barbara Wallace announced the donation of their services to the project. Mike and Barbara are also board members of BeautifulFeet Ministry and some of the most kind and generous people on the planet.

Our goal is to have this studio up and operational by mid-March and to do that we need your help. We need materials, manpower and money. If you’re interested in helping stay tuned to KARK 4 Today for updates or just send me an email and I’ll keep you on the list.

If you’d like to donate just click on the donate button on this website or send a check to:
    Beautiful Feet Ministry
    3 Trent Jones Cove
    Sherwood, AR 72120
And put iCan Dance on the memo line.