Harper company welcomes wheelchair-bound dancer into fold
On Friday night, Harper sophomore Allison Baran of Palatine will be sharing the stage with none other the college president, Kenneth Ender.
As a featured member of the Harper Dance Company, Baran will perform with her classmates in the finale of the Celebration of Excellence program, which recognizes student involvement over the course of the school year. Ender is rumored to be making a cameo appearance in the dance.
Baran's latest gig comes after she performed in three dances in the company's show last weekend, including an originally choreographed number, that she and classmate Ashley Koeckritz designed, to "Who Says" by Selena Gomez.
All this, and she spent the winter basketball season cheering on the sidelines - and during halftime - with the Harper Spirit Crew.
Can anything keep her down? Clearly not being in a wheelchair.
Baran has cerebral palsy. She is the first student in a wheelchair to join the Harper Dance Company, but she's hardly a rookie.
She brought 10 years of experience to the team. Back in junior high, Baran performed with the cheerleading squad at Winston Campus, as well as with the Crystal Lake Raiders Cheer Sparkle Squad. The all-special needs poms squad has won seven state championships.
She also was part of Palatine High School's PEP squad, which included special needs students. But at Harper she wanted to perform along her able-bodied classmates, and they have gained as much from the experience as Baran.
"Our members quickly adjusted components of our program to include her into their routines," says Vicki Summers, who co-moderates the dance team with Kym Banner. "And they have worked individually with her to help her learn our pom and spirit routines.
"In many ways, Allison has helped us learn how to include integrated movements for people with disabilities into our program," Summers added, "and we look forward to continuing to do that. "
Baran's determination to succeed is evident in everything she tries.
"I was told that going to college would be too hard," she says. "But I'm in my second year at Harper and I'm focusing on what I love to do, which is art. I'm finishing my fourth art class this semester."
Her dancing is an extension of her love of art. It's just another means of expression and one that she has been pursuing for years.
Baran says she chose the Selena Gomez song for its lyrics and empowering message.
"This song is about not letting people tell you that you can't do things you really want to do - and that you are beautiful no matter what your abilities are," Baran says. "Dancing in a wheelchair is hard but not impossible," she adds. "I'm so thankful for all the girls that were in my dance who helped to show that. I hope to continue my dream of being both an artist and a dancer."