The No Limits II Dance Party is a free event organized by the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem, DSAGWS, designed to provide an inclusive and enjoyable evening for adults with Down syndrome and other special needs. This year’s event was held on February 15, 2025 at the Wake Forest Biotech Place in downtown Winston-Salem. The dance started in the early 2000s, after the families of adults with Down syndrome thought a dance would be a great evening and a way to bring those with varying abilities together. Since then, the gathering has hit a few obstacles over the years, with Covid being one of them; but this year, the excitement for the dance was bigger than ever, and those in attendance had a great time!
From Dancing to Bingo…What More Could You Want?
This year’s No Limits II Dance Party had something for everyone, including bingo!
“Wake Forest Biotech Place was the perfect location for this year’s dance. We had dancing in the front of the venue with music from our DJ, Carolina Sound Machine, along with seating for those who didn’t want to dance but just to enjoy the music. The bingo room was separate, down the hall from the dance, and it was a huge hit. With exciting prizes and light refreshments for all guests, the night was perfect for everyone,” said Jay Callahan, the executive director of Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem. But, the guests aren’t the only people who have a good time.
Much More Than a Dance
Because the volunteers at the No Limits II Dance are family and friends of the attendees or work with people with different abilities, seeing this event come together and bring so much joy is beyond rewarding.
“Our volunteers are busy the entire night of the dance, either handling registration, passing out food or calling bingo. This event, for many of the attendees, is the way they see their friends who they don’t see very often; and seeing their faces light up is why we do what we do. This is so much more than a dance; it is a way for those with different abilities to come together, have fun, see old friends, make new friends and make memories to last a lifetime. The volunteers possibly get as much out of the event as the attendees do. The joy seems to spread throughout the night and, with a few years in the past when we didn’t have this event, we are back on schedule to have No Limits II Dance as an annual event,” Jay commented.
The DSAGWS is dedicated to ensuring that individuals with Down syndrome in the Piedmont area are valued, included and given opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. They achieve these goals by providing information, networking opportunities and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, educators, healthcare professionals and the broader community.
For more information on DSAGWS, visit dsagws.org. You can also sign up for upcoming events like the Deacon Dash on March 22, 2025 and the Starlight Gala on May 3, 2025.
