DanceCenter’s second anniversary doubles as an Up Kids! fundraiser

Most nights, DanceCenter, 3686 E. Sunset Road, is bustling with boogie as ballroom and Latin dancing enthusiasts strut their stuff and practice their pasodoble.

All of that was going on at a second anniversary celebration June 2, but this time dancers were kicking it for a cause, raising funds and awareness for Up Kids!, a new organization that seeks to advance the artistic abilities of children with intellectual challenges.

This was the studio's second fundraiser. Owner Carrie Ann Cone sponsored the studio's first charity event to benefit a friend with leukemia only seven months after the studio was open. She hopes to make charity events a regular part of the operation.

"It's a lot of work, but it's worth it," Cone said.

DanceCenter is a ballroom and Latin dance studio that offers 40 to 50 classes a week. In addition to ballroom dance, it offers summer dance camp sessions for kids, classes in adult ballet and fitness and even a monthly burlesque workshop.

"A lot of people think ballroom, and they think of the fox trot, waltz and tango," Cone said. "But ballroom is 18 different dances, including salsa, cha-cha, the rumba and all of the Latin dances. On top of our regular classes we bring in coaches and instructors from out of town to teach specialty workshops."

Up Kids! was founded by local entertainment producer Ray Garza and his wife, a singer who goes by the single name Alexandria. The charity event at DanceCenter was sparked by a conversation between Cone and Alexandria.

"We met, and I shared our vision for the organization," Alexandria said. "It all just worked out. We all worked to get people to come out to their second anniversary and our first fundraiser."

The inspiration for Up Kids! came more than 20 years ago when Garza and his first wife were expecting their second child. The baby was diagnosed with a 90 percent chance of being born with Down syndrome, and a doctor presented the couple with the option of terminating the pregnancy.

They declined, in part because there was a 10 percent chance their daughter would be born without Down syndrome but mostly due to religious convictions.

Their daughter, Gabriela, was born without Down syndrome, but Garza saw what he described as "a very slight touch of Down" in her eyes, which he took as a sign and a reminder. Inspired by the events, this year he co-founded Up Kids!

Alexandria said the organization's name was inspired by her husband's observation that he had never seen kids with Down syndrome, down. They always seemed up.

"That's also how we came up with the group's motto," Alexandria said. "Up Kids! Where down is up and autistic is artistic."

Alexandria said many children with intellectual challenges excel in and enjoy the arts. The group hopes by next year to host its first Up Camp, which Alexandria described as a celebrity-driven camp with artists, musicians, dancers and visual artists working with children.

"It would culminate in a performance, to show off the kids' talent," she said. "That's what we're working towards. We're kind of the Special Olympics of the arts."

The June 2 DanceCenter event was partially a test of that vision, with a dance performance by children Up Kids! hopes to serve.

"They stole the show," Alexandria said. "It was powerful and moving just to see them out there having a blast."

Due to an overwhelming response from parents, Cone plans to set up a regular class at the studio for children with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.

"The parents were surprised how much the kids enjoyed it," Cone said. "I'm trying to set up special classes for them by July."

For more information about Up Kids!, visit upkids.org. For information about DanceCenter, visit dancecenterlv.com or call 434-8800.

Contact Sunrise/Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 380-4532.