While most all people develop a hobby in life, not everyone has the pleasure of balancing their passion in their daily life. For junior Hanah Gershkowitz, by combining her love for dance and kids, she has been able to find joy in working for an organization called “Ballet for All Kids.” This association teaches ballet to students with disabilities and has become an important aspect of her life.

When Gershkowitz started dancing when she was two years old and quickly recognized that it was her passion. Several years later, her ballet teacher Bonnie Schlachte asked her if she would be interested in working with Ballet for All Kids. Immediately after starting her job, Gershkowitz fell in love with being an instructor. Ballet for All Kids is one of the only studios in the world that offers classical ballet training to all children despite their disabilities. She hopes that through this organization, the kids will get to enjoy the art of dance as much as she does.

“The goal of Ballet for All Kids is to create a safe place for kids with all kinds of disabilities to express themselves due to the fact that most of them cannot express what they feel through words,” said Gershkowitz. “The results are truly amazing.”

Gershkowitz teaches people from the age of 2 to 25 and plans fundraiser events for the organization. She works with children with different disorders, and has been able to watch them emulate their emotions through dance.

The students amaze Gershkowitz every day, always greeting her with a warm hug despite the harsh times they may be going through. Teaching these kids is not just a learning experience for them, but a learning experience for her as well.

“These kids have taught me that life isn’t easy or long for everyone,” said Gershkowitz. “Every moment truly counts and they make me a better person day by day.”

Working for Ballet for All Kids has opened Gershkowitz’s eyes to the harsh realities of life. The children suffering from disorders such as anxiety disorders, behavioral issues, Attention Defict Disorder, blindness and deafness strongly motivate her to live life to the fullest. Despite all the advantages of working for the organization, Gershkowitz believes the best reward is seeing the children she teaches grow as dancers. With the help of her mentor, Schlachte, Gershkowitz plans on keeping up with this organization and growing as a dance teacher herself.

“In the future I hope to take the organization with me to college,” said Gershkowitz. “I also hope to be able to teach kids of all disabilities how to dance for several years.”

Although jobs come and go, Gershkowitz believes that Ballet for All Kids will always be a dominant factor in her life. Seeing the smile on the kids’ faces as they learn new routines is truly an inspiration to Gershkowitz.

Aside from working in the studio, she has also taken Ballet for All Kids to CHS, creating a club with freshman Aria Terango, sophomore Dani Cohen, and senior Sophia Terango.            This club offers information on getting involved with the organization and how students at CHS can help make a difference. Make sure to check out the club at CHS to be informed on Ballet for All Kids’ upcoming events.