The young Coco Surmon of Paarl is the first person with Down Syndrome to ever dance at the Paarl Valley Eisteddfod. Despite her challenges she is breaking barriers and setting the stage on fire with her uniqueness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 11-year-old girl with Down Syndrome has been a student at Bianca\u2019s School of Ballet for the past four years. Bianca Baxter, Coco\u2019s ballet teacher, says the young dancer is determined even though her abilities differ from the rest of dancers. And even that can\u2019t hold her back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe do not have any specific competitions for people with Down Syndrome, such as an eisteddfod,\u201d she said. \u201cWe do not have anything special for such children. I just thought this year to give that child the opportunity to take part in the Eisteddfod \u2013 it\u2019s bigger than getting a trophy or cum laude.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coco has a twin sister Malika, who also does ballet. Baxter also describes Malika as an excellent ballet dancer, who ropes in gold medals and cum laude certificates. Coco is part of a younger ballet group. Baxter says she is very disciplined in class and copes with the dance routines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe most beautiful thing is that everyone loves her,\u201d she says. \u201cWe have so much respect for her, because she does not disrupt the class, and she can remember patterns. You get different categories of Down Syndrome and she has it all. She is a complete Down Syndrome child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCoco is part of a group, and she takes part in every concert. She just wasn\u2019t as ready as she was this year for the eisteddfod. I just included her and she remembered everything. She and her team, Cotton Candy, won gold. The best reward for me was to see her on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Baxter she also noticed Coco loves music. She also credits the fact that Malika and their mother Liz Surmon\u2019s support is what boosts Coco to do what she loves with passion. She is defying every stigma about her condition. \u201cShe has been involved with Bianca\u2019s School of Ballet for about four years and she dances in Paarl. She dances twice a week for 45 minutes, which is long to concentrate at time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surmon says both her daughters also compete in rhythmic gymnastics at the Infinity Rhythmic Gymnastics Club. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is very grateful for Coco\u2019s teachers and coaches, who have welcomed her into their classes with open arms and hearts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Malika aspires to be a special-needs teacher one day, and even practise ballet at home with Coco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBallet is about perfection and beauty,\u201d she says. \u201cCoco will never do it perfectly, but her absolute love for dance shines through. I am tremendously proud of her. When you have a child with Down Syndrome, you are told about what they won\u2019t achieve. I never thought we would have the opportunities to dance and for Coco to feel so part of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope that Coco will be an inspiration to new parents with children who has Down Syndrome.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The young Coco Surmon of Paarl is the first person with Down Syndrome to ever dance at the Paarl Valley Eisteddfod. Despite her challenges she is breaking barriers and setting the stage on fire with her 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