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Dancing, socializing at 16th Winterfest dance
By GRAIG GRAZIOSI
GIRARD
High-school-age students with special needs from across the Mahoning Valley spent their Wednesday night dancing and socializing at the 16th annual Winterfest dance.
Inside the Mahoning Country Club, students danced to music alongside their teachers and student aides. Red and green streamers adorned the room and the students were dressed in their best party wear.
The dance was created to give the students an event where they can socialize and celebrate in a safe and accepting environment. Any high-school-age student with multiple, orthopedic or developmental disabilities is free to attend the annual dance.
Jeanne Constantino, an intervention specialist at East High School, has coordinated the event for the past 16 years, and said the event has only grown in popularity.
“We planned for about 300 kids tonight,” Constantino said. “But we’re actually at capacity tonight.”
More than 25 school districts – coming from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties – were represented at the dance.
The dance – featuring a catered meal, a visit from Santa Claus, a live DJ and a professional photographer – is funded through donations from individual benefactors as well as organizations and is offered at no cost to the students.
“There aren’t many events for our kids,” Constantino said. “We like to do this before it gets too bad out. They really have a ball here.”
On the dance floor, Austin Gigax, a senior from Campbell Memorial High School and a fifth-year veteran of the Winterfest, sported a bright red dress shirt, black pants and a black fedora while he danced with his peers. Gigax, who hopes to work at the Purple Cat once he graduates, said his favorite part of the event was the dancing, a fact made clear as he rushed back to the dance floor at the first few notes of Michael Jackson’s “Bad.”
The night wrapped up with the crowning of a randomly selected snow prince and princess, and with an appearance by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and a group of elves.
As predicted, the moment Santa Claus emerged from behind a veil of red and green streamers, an eruption of cheers filled the room and a crowd of students hoping to get face time with the man in red began to form.
“The students really love it when Santa shows up,” Constantino said. “For them, this is a big deal.”