- April 24, 2024
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People dance at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Billy Howson and Rilea Jackson dance together at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Christy and Brandon share a sweet moment at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
People dance at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Neal and Gerry spin around during the chicken dance at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Guests grab food at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Leah McAskill, Kyle Mcskell and Ben Speights dance to the "Cupid Shuffle" at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ben Speights, Leah McAskill and Kyle Mcskell smile for a photo at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Beth Snyder dances to "Gangnam Style" at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Hiram dances to "Gangnam Style" at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Neal does the Macarena at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Gerrard Minnis and Yvonne Mackins dance to the "Macarena" at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Cherie Walker, Steve Lengyel and Shana Amos smile in front of the photo op at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
SPARC volunteers Connie Massey, Marjo Zelinsky and Mylene Dempsey smile for a photo at SPARC's Valentine Dance at the Nova Community Center on Feb. 16. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Nova Community Center was alight with dance music and pink and red ballooons for the Valentine Dance hosted by the Special Populations Activity and Recreation Council of Volusia in partnership city of Ormond Beach on Friday, Feb. 16.
"They so look forward to this stuff," said Connie Massey, SPARC volunteer and member of the board of directors.
She said SPARC holds six to seven dances a year where any special needs person in Volusia is invited to attend. While there is an optional $3 donation to cover the cost of the event, no one is turned away.
These activities are close to her heart. Her son, who has down syndrome, participates in each one.
For Lori Koplin, Nova community center special populations division coordinator, her favorite part of the dances is seeing everyone hang out.
"Since we have this, it's a safe place for them to come and hang out and see friends that they know from school or from work," Koplin said.
From the "Cupid Shuffle" to the "Macarena", all the guests left it all on the dance floor.
"Everything goes," Massey said. "They don't hold back."
