Alemany Has Annual Dance for Disabled

Nineteen years ago Nancy Graziano, a former coach and athletic director at Alemany High School, decided to hold a Halloween party for her sister Marsha.

Marsha, who is developmentally disabled, loves Halloween and parties but had nowhere to go. So, Nancy recruited a handful of students from the girls basketball team and together they threw a party for Marsha and a few of her friends.

It’s funny how a good idea can catch on.

On Wednesday, Alemany students put on the 19th annual Exceptional Halloween Dance, drawing more than 200 developmentally disabled children and adults from schools and agencies throughout the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

Most guests, like their student hosts, came in full costume.

“The amazing thing to me is that at the beginning everyone is timid and people don’t quite know how to act,” said Pilar Morado, an Alemany senior and one of three student religious commissioners responsible for planning the event. “But by the end they are dancing and singing and having fun. There’s a lot of interaction between the two groups.”

From the freshmen serving cookies and punch to a group of burly football players politely asking for dances, nearly every one of the about 150 students who turned out for the event played a role in making their guests feel welcome.

Senior Katie Blatter, who is also an Alemany religious commissioner, said the Halloween dance continues to grow each year.

“A lot more students are getting involved. It’s become the thing to do,” Katie said.

“Yeah, it’s considered more fun than homecoming,” Pilar said.

Kathy Alvarez, whose two daughters graduated from Alemany, said she tries to bring her brother Tim, who is disabled, every year.

“He says he’s having a great time. This is really a fabulous thing,” Alvarez said. “A lot of people just don’t how to relate to disabled people. I think it’s great for building understanding on both sides.”