|
|
Ballroom dance lessons bring family closer Moeller, a special education teacher in West Grove, Pa., wished everything to be perfect when she marries Palmer, an eighth-grade math teacher. So, she enrolled in UD ballroom dancing lessons with her groom-to-be and her entire family. Since February, the family has been learning moves from Jackie Shubert of UDs ballroom dance team. Shubert choreographed the couples first dance as husband and wife and Moellers wedding whirl with her dad, Bob Moeller. Its just been such a positive experience for us. We just laugh the whole time, Moeller said. Its just so funny to see the guys get involved just as much as we do. We means Moeller; her mother, Pat Moeller, an instructor in UDs Department of Education; and her younger sister, Lindsey, a UD freshman. The guys are Palmer, Bob Moeller, a chemical engineer, and Heathers brother Ryan Moeller, an MBNA employee with Down syndrome. Pat Moeller said ballroom dancing coach Pat Grim never hesitated when she told her one of the adults in the group had a disability. Twelve weeks later, Ryan Moeller, a groomsman in the wedding, is dancing with ease. This is something he can excel at. He loves music and dancing, his mother said. Hes learned so muchposture and everything. Hes to the point now where hes a critic. He watches everybody and tells us what we do wrong. Pat Moeller and her husband learned steps they never knew before in their 32 years of marriage. You go for your child, Pat Moeller said. Thats what we went for, but it just became so much fun, and we learned so much. And, its given us time to be with our new son-in-law. When Bob Moeller dances with his daughter at the wedding, theyll be stepping to a version of My Girl by the Temptations. Bob and Heather Moeller picked it because its the song they used to sing as they washed the dishesand because its not too sad and sentimental. Bob needs something fast and uplifting or hell never make it through the dance. He and Heather are very close, Pat Moeller said. So, when Heather Moeller, former president of Chi Omega Sorority at UD, walks onto the dance floor surrounded by her sorority sisters in their bridesmaid dresses, everything will be perfect. Of course, Heather Moeller says the day would still be perfect even if no one could dance. No matter what, I have Dan. It will be my dream wedding, absolutely, she said. Members of the Universitys ballroom dance team have been teaching private and group lessons and choreographing wedding dances to raise funds for the team for more than 14 years. The next series of group lessons, scheduled to begin Wednesday, June 2, cost $50 for nonstudents for a six-lesson series and $25 for full-time students. For more information, call Grim at 831-1117. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |