Autistic Pride Day

What's new?

2009-09-09T09:25:00.002-04:00

Ballet exams, that's what! Over the last year, Faith and I have worked hard at training, and we are proud to say that WE PASSSSSSSSSSSED!!!!! WITH MERIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep! I got me my Intermediate, and Faith got her Intermediate Foundation. Proof that we are AWESOME!

What's up the the dancing auties?

2008-10-05T14:05:00.002-04:00

My sister and I are not competing this year, we're taking a break and taking classes at the IN.MOTION studio. I'm taking ballroom dancing lessons this year, we both are still with BADc for ballet.

Pictures of Nathaniel in costume for this year's solo, "That's Life!", video to follow...

2008-07-01T13:01:00.004-04:00

Pictures of Faith in her costume for this year's solo, "It Had to be You", video to follow...

2008-07-01T12:54:00.007-04:00

This is a picture of Faith 'en pointe'. She was allowed pointe shoes in April 2008.

London 2007 dance photos

2007-09-26T07:20:00.000-04:00

Pictures from Faith and Nathaniel's competitive dance solos, May 2007, London, Ontario.

"Shakespeare School welcomes student with autism"

2007-09-12T01:52:00.001-04:00

Source: The Circular (Stratford Festival newsletter), August 2007

NB Nathaniel was first diagnosed with Asperger's and then later diagnosed with Autism.

Autistic Pride Dancers

2007-09-09T17:01:00.000-04:00

Faith and Nathaniel's dance videos are now on YouTube:

Autistic Pride Dancers - L.O.V.E.
Faith Andrew's jazz solo performed in Basic Attitude dance company's 2007 year end show at the Sanderson Centre, Brantford, Ontario. The choreography is by Sherri Chaffey, principal teacher and owner of BAdc. Costume by Veronica Watkins of Ancaster, Ontario. Videography by DRC Video Productions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgIcr3Jhk9E

Autistic Pride Dancers - Razzle Dazzle
Nathaniel Andrew's musical theatre solo performed in Basic Attitude dance company's 2007 year end show at the Sanderson Centre, Brantford, Ontario. The choreography is by Sherri Chaffey, principal teacher and owner of BAdc. Costume by Veronica Watkins of Ancaster, Ontario. Videography by DRC Video Productions. Thanks to the very friendly staff of A Kind of Magic, located in Waterloo, who worked with Nathaniel to plan and execute the illusions used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDPgIWFayQU

More photos

2007-01-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

Nathaniel Andrew, 13 yrs. old, competitive ballet trio, Irish Escapade

Faith Andrew, 8 yrs. old, recreational modern class

Faith Andrew, 8 yrs. old, recreational modern class

Faith and Nathaniel, competitive jazz group

Faith and Nathaniel, competitive jazz group

Nathaniel, competitive musical theatre solo, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (displaying his rosette and Junior Dreamboat 2006 Trophy)

Nathaniel, competitive musical theatre solo, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (displaying his rosette and Junior Dreamboat 2006 Trophy)

Nathaniel, competitive musical theatre solo, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Faith, competitive jazz group

Whenever Faith and Nathaniel are in a group together, I try to get a duet pose in their costumes. Okay, as an update, Faith will turn 9 at the end of April and is preparing for her first RAD ballet exam. She will have her grade 3 exam this spring and will attend an exam workshop in Toronto in February to help her prepare. Nathaniel turned 14 after Christmas and will have his Grade 6 piano exam at the end of January. His first (and only) piano exam with the Royal Conservatory of Music was Grade 4 which he completed last year with honours. Nathaniel is currently taking four grade 10 courses through the AMDEC online high school and enjoying the online interaction with his classmates and teachers. Faith is enjoying her second year of homeschooling. Their year-end show, PIRATES!, will be on June 17th, at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford. Both children will perform in 7 or 8 numbers.

On stage

2006-05-22T03:26:00.000-04:00

London Dancefest [competition], University of Western - London, Ontario, May 5-7, 2006

Faith Andrew - 8 years old, ballet group "Petite Maids"

Nathaniel Andrew - 13 years old, musical theatre jazz solo "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Nathaniel Andrew - 13 years old, musical theatre jazz solo "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Nathaniel Andrew - 13 years old, musical theatre jazz solo "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

Our motto

2006-05-13T11:21:00.000-04:00

Autistic and Proud!

2006-04-19T16:38:00.000-04:00

Nathaniel and Faith Andrew have been dancing since the age of 2.

Nathaniel has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Erb's Palsy. He is proud to be Autistic. Nathaniel is thirteen years old and he has danced competitively with Basic Attitude dance company since the age of seven. In April, Nathaniel won the title of Junior Dreamboat 2006 at the Broadway Dreams competition in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The award included a scholarship. The next competitions will be held in London, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York, where Nathaniel hopes to qualify for their National Finals in Cape May, New Jersey this summer. Faith, who is now eight years old, has danced competitively with Basic Attitude since she was four.

An Exceptional Teacher for Exceptional Children

Basic Attitude dance company is located near Eagle and King in Preston, Cambridge. The principal and owner is Sherri Cook. She has taught Nathaniel since the age of four and first invited him to compete at the age of seven. Sherri gives her students skills that will last throughout their lives and sees the potential in every child.

At BAdc, Faith and Nathaniel take classes in jazz, ballet, and tap. Faith also takes a modern class and Nathaniel takes a class in musical theatre for his competitive solo. Nathaniel is competing with his musical theatre jazz solo as well as a ballet trio and a jazz group. Faith is competing in a ballet group and is also in Nathaniel's jazz group. Both children have been diagnosed with Autism, Nathaniel also has physical disabilities.

2004-2005

Faith Andrew - 6 years old, competitive jazz solo

Nathaniel Andrew - 12 years old, competitive ballet trio

Nathaniel Andrew - 12 years old, non-competitive ballet trio

Nathaniel Andrew - 12 years old, competitive musical theatre jazz solo - This solo, "Accentuate the Positive" won an overall award for Best Emotional Execution, Junior Division at the International Dance Competition in Detroit, Michigan.

Basic Attitude dance company's Year End Show will be held on June 18th this year. Nathaniel and Faith's performances will be a celebration of Autistic Pride Day. The show is at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford at 5pm. Tickets will be $18 and go on sale in late May. This year's show is called Jungle Fever and Nathaniel and Faith each perform in seven of the scheduled dance routines, three of which they dance together. Anyone is welcome to attend and celebrate the accomplishments of Autistics.