When Napa Valley Dance Center presented its annual recital last weekend, the stage was filled with young dancers, from the miniature Cinderellas in tutus and tiaras making their first pirouette to the experienced teenagers spinning and leaping across the stage in flowing gowns.

It’s pretty tantalizing stuff when, like Isabella Yarnall, you’re 5 years old and you’ve already watched your three older sisters sparkling in the spotlight. It’s only natural to want your own turn to be a princess for an hour or two.

But Isabella was born with a rare genetic condition called Larsen’s Syndrome, symptoms of which include multiple joint dislocations, clubbed feet and problems with ligaments in her knees. It’s taken the devotion of her mom and the generous spirit of a dance teacher to give Isabella her own chance to dance.

 The results of Beth Yarnall’s efforts for her daughter not only have Isabella dancing, but have led to a free dance class for special needs kids at the Napa Valley Dance Center. The class is taught by Sandy Nugent, the owner and director of the school.

“As we traveled through the dark, through the first years and all the unknowns, I was asked, ‘What do you want for your daughter?’” Beth Yarnall said. “I answered, ‘I want her to dance.’ At that point, I had no idea if she would even be able to walk, let alone dance.”

It was natural to turn to Nugent. Yarnall’s three older daughters, Megan, 7, Merissa, 10, and Ingrid, 14, had all studied with Nugent. So she knew that Nugent has opened the door for students of all ages and abilities, and she mainstreams her special needs students into her dance programs. Nugent’s work is also guided by a tireless devotion to the community, which has her students performing at nursing and retirement homes and events including the Relay for Life, the AIDS walk, Molly’s Angel’s fundraisers and Copia holiday parties.

For 28 years Nugent has also volunteered to teach a weekly class to special needs children in the adaptive room at Snow Elementary School. “I taught dance at Wintun School,” she said, referring to the former Napa school that served special needs children of all ages.

Nugent welcomed Isabella to her class.

“My daughter is blessed with the ideal dance teacher,” said Yarnall. “Sandy made the dream for my daughter to dance a reality. At 2 and a half, she learned to walk, and at 3 she was dancing. Today, at 5, she dances with children her own age and has performed at more than 20 performances throughout our community. Dancing has been a wonderful experience for my daughter. It has built strength, flexibility and self-confidence.

“She wanted to be like her sisters. She said to me, ‘I want to dance.’”

The experience of caring for Isabella — the doctors’ appointments, the advocacy, the worries, the surgeries and the endless search for information — led Yarnall to extend the gift of dance to other families facing similar challenges. She worked with Nugent to develop “A Chance to Dance,” a therapeutic dance and music program that Nugent teaches weekly at the Dance Center. Free of charge, it’s open to all children with “special needs” that range from autism to physical disabilities.

The class was launched in February. “The day the program started, Isabella, our inspiration, was at Shriners, having surgery on her foot,” Yarnall said.

Dance class

On a recent Thursday, half a dozen youngsters and their moms were at the studio, surrounded by the mirrors and barres used by the dancers as Nugent led them in an opening round of the Hokey Pokey.

“Everyone has different things going on,” Yarnall explained as she watched her own tiny daughter, who just then was swaying to the music of Disney’s “A Whole New World.” Isabella participates in this class, in addition to her regular classes. “What’s neat, is this is teaching her to give back,” Yarnall said.

Dena Jackson had brought her stepdaughter, Brittany, 4, who is working to overcome delayed speech syndrome. Jackson’s daughter, Laci, 2, although not a special needs child, had come along, dressed in her best sparkle shoes and ruffled pink dress. “It’s wonderful,” Dena Jackson said. “On the first day we came, Sandy said to the moms, ‘Go ahead and have a cup of coffee if you want.’ But we wanted to stay here.”

The chance to network with other parents — and to dance a little themselves — is a powerful boon for these mightily challenged parents. Jackson said the fact that the class is free is also a help. “If it wasn’t for Sandy, I don’t know what we’d do.”

Mary Ferons, a teacher herself, had brought her 3-year-old daughter, Jane, who has arthrogryposis, another rare condition that affects joints and muscles. Jane, beaming with smiles, was in a “stander” to help her stay upright; her mother moved it to the music. Later Ferons took her small daughter from the stander and danced around the room with her. “We weren’t able to socialize that first year,” Ferons said. “It means so much to be able to come here with her and be with families who understand the issues (we face).”

 

And more chances

Yarnall is hoping to spread the word to other families about this special class. She’s directing an effort to form a nonprofit organization, A Chance Too!, that will not only support the dance class, but other activities for children and families with special needs. “We’d like to have art and music classes, swimming and even to go fishing,” Yarnall said.

Supporting Yarnall’s efforts is Lynn Leale, the owner of Backstage Dance, who has worked with Nugent for 28 years, as outfitter for the dancers and stage manager for the performances. “Sandy won’t toot her own horn, so I will,” Leale said. “But there is a lot of personal meaning for me in seeing this happen. I was there when Isabella was born.”

Leale and Yarnall put together a silent auction at the annual recital that netted the necessary $1,200 to apply for nonprofit status for A Chance Too!

As for Nugent, she remains characteristically modest about the gifts she shares with dancers. “Why not?” she replied when asked about the prospect of teaching people “from 3 to 70” how to dance. “People are seeing that there’s a joyful need for anyone who wants to be able to dance. Dance is different for everyone anyway.”

“A Chance to Dance” is offered Thursday mornings, 10-11 a.m., on a drop-in basis at the Napa Valley Dance Center, 950 Pearl St., Napa. For further information about this class or other summer dance classes, contact the studio at 255-2701. For information about A Chance Too! contact Beth Yarnall at achancetoo@yahoo.com.

A Chance to Dance

Thursdays, 10-11 a.m.

No fee

Napa Valley Dance Center,

950 Pearl St., Napa, CA 9455