I have a friend named Gabriella Sluter (Gabby). Gabby and I share a love of Ballet. We both take classes at Festival Ballet and have performed twice together in "The Nutcracker." We spin, we jump, we laugh just like normal friends. Our only difference is Gabby has Down Syndrome.

Gabby participates in the Adaptive Dance program at Festival Ballet in Providence, Rhode Island. Thanks to the subsidies from The Fogarty Foundation, this program provides students with Down Syndrome a creative environment to develop motor skills and to enhance their sense of musicality.

For my Bat Mitzvah project, I am hosting a Dance-a-Thon to support the Adaptive Program. The funds raised will be used to make classes more affordable for Gabby and others with Down Syndrome, so that everyone has a chance to dance!