Waves Inclusive Dance Parties celebrates first anniversary

Organisers of the Waves Inclusive Dance Parties celebrated the first anniversary of the event by holding another Inclusive Dance Party at the Central Coast Leagues Club.

The Waves Inclusive Dance Parties for young people with and without disability are organised by a committee of people mostly aged in their 20s, with the support of Social Futures, an NDIS partner in the community, and the Terrigal Rotary Club. The dances are held every three months.

Around 200 people attended Friday’s dance.

Andie Poetschka is one of the young people who helped make the idea of inclusive dance parties on the Central Coast a reality. The 25 year old, who has cerebral palsy, lives on the Central Coast and works in disability advocacy.

“I knew the dance parties would be successful, I just didn’t expect them to be this successful,” Ms Poetschka said.

“I think the live band has been a big drawcard, because a lot of people with disability never have the opportunity to go to a live gig so this is a very special thing for them.

“We can also be ourselves there. We are not babysat. It’s created by young people with disability for young people.”

The Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch also attended the dance and helped cut the first anniversary cake.

“It was great to get my groove on with the fabulous people who attended the Waves Inclusive Dance Party,” Ms Tesch said.

“Seeing so many people of all abilities, laughing, dancing, having fun and doing things that other adults get to do warmed my heart. Thank you to the team at Waves for another successful all abilities dance party.”

Social Futures Central Coast Community Development Officer Scott Jones was also at the dance.

“Congratulations to the Waves working group for organising such a fantastic event to celebrate one year of hosting these very important events for people with a disability on the Central Coast,” he said.

“And a big thank you to Terrigal Rotary and Central Coast Leagues Club for their ongoing support.”

Terrigal Rotary also added their congratulations.

“The Rotary Club of Terrigal is proud to work alongside Social Futures to support our Waves committee to facilitate social opportunities for young people with disability on the Central Coast,” said Rotary’s Maggi Vincent. “This is an important initiative aimed at reducing social

Ms Poetschka said she moved to the Central Coast from Sydney when she was a teenager and quickly noticed that there were few events where young people with disability could socialise.

“Our first dance party on June 11, 2022 attracted less than 60 people, but we had the best time. We booked a live band and decorated the function room. There was a modest door charge, just to cover costs.

“We promoted the next party through social media and media, and around 150 came. Then we organised another dance close to Christmas and almost 200 showed up. It was brilliant, everyone was in fab outfits.”

The dance parties have been so successful organisers have moved the event to a bigger space in Central Coast Leagues Club with a bigger dance floor.

“When I’m at a dance party people come up to me and say, ‘When is the next one, I want to come, I want to be there.’ People are so excited by this.”

PHOTO: Maddy Dimond, Andie Poetschka, Scott Jones, Ben Brown, Brendan Jones , Stephen Epps, Liesl Tesch (Member for Gosford) and Maggie Vincent from Rotary.