Share
Richard Hughes decided at just six years old that he wanted to be a tap dancer and do a tap routine for an audience. His dream finally came true last month when he had a chance to give a stellar performance to students at a local elementary school on Long Island.
The 65-year-old Williston Park resident was invited to the school’s Senior Prom – an annual event hosted by the school for seniors from the local senior center. Hughes was among the attendees who were celebrated on the special 50s themed night where student volunteers had a chance to socialize, learn some dance moves, and serve dinner and dessert to the group.
“It was really great to see the kids interact with the senior citizens and ask them questions about their lives, like how many grandkids they have,” said Erica Rothenstein, Incident Resource Manager at YAI and a parent volunteer at the school where Hughes performed.
Hughes danced to “At the Hop” by Danny and the Juniors and was an instant hit with the crowd. The night ended with a sweet surprise when students named him prom king.
“When they announced my name, I was in shock and didn’t expect it, but I took it gracefully and was proud of myself,” said Hughes. “I was very happy to entertain the audience and I hope I made them happy, too.”
“It really made me feel like I was seeing everything we do as an agency come to life when I saw Richard at the school with people from the community,” said Rothenstein. “They didn’t see him as someone who had a disability but a senior who came to their event and whose company they enjoyed very much.”