Special Olympics DanceSport Showcase to be held in Commack
The 2026 Special Olympics DanceSport LI/NY Showcase will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center (SYJCC) in Commack.
The free event, which runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 74 Hauppauge Road, celebrates the talent, artistry and accomplishments of dancers with developmental disabilities.
The showcase brings together dancers from NSSA, Jayden Foundation, Adler Center, Manes JCC, Butler Center and SYJCC and special guests include professional dancer, choreographer and Special Olympics DanceSport advocate Louis van Amstel, best known for his appearances on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
Guest performers Robert Wallop and Michelle Andrade will also bring their experience as competitors, performers and advocates for inclusion to the stage.
“At the SYJCC, we want every person to have opportunities to develop their talents, form connections and take an active role in community life,” said Rick Lewis, CEO of the SYJCC. “This showcase puts the dancers and their accomplishments center stage. We invite our neighbors to join us, enjoy the performances and help build a community where people of all abilities belong.”
Wallop, of Annapolis, Maryland, is a two-time Special Olympics World DanceSport champion who appeared on “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2017. He has performed and competed across the United States and internationally, with experience in ballroom dance, cheer and team dance.
For van Amstel, making dance accessible reflects his belief that “dance is a universal language and should be shared.” His work with Special Olympics DanceSport spans more than a decade, alongside his development of LaBlast, a partner-free ballroom dance fitness program with formats for different ages and abilities.
“You won’t want to miss the special performances that are scheduled for November 14 at the Suffolk YJCC,” van Amstel said. “It is such an honor to work for Special Olympics NY and serve Long Island athletes. I am born and raised on Long Island, and I am so grateful to serve individuals from my hometown and work alongside our athletes to create more inclusive communities. Our athletes are incredibly dedicated to their sport training and competition, and I can’t wait to see them compete in DanceSport at this showcase.”
DanceSport, became a recognized Special Olympics sport in March 2019. It encompasses ballroom, streetdance, performing arts and specialty dance, with opportunities to participate as solo dancers, duos, couples or teams. DanceSport was also featured at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025.
The Nov. 14 showcase will celebrate participating dancers while supporting efforts to have DanceSport recognized as a Special Olympics sport in New York State. The event is not a competition; all participants will receive awards recognizing their participation and accomplishments.
Click here to reserve free tickets.
For more information about the SYJCC, visit www.syjcc.org.
