Special Needs Drum Corps Chosen to Perform at League of Yes Opening Day of Ball Field for Special Needs Players
April 29, 2016 | News
Special Needs Catering Service Also Chosen to Provide Refreshments
Family Residences and Essential Enterprise (FREE) is proud to announce that two of their groups will play instrumental roles in the Opening Day Ceremonies of the League of YES’ new handicapped accessible sports field at Eisenhower Park in Uniondale. This is Nassau County’s first disability accessible multi-sports field. Players from both Suffolk and Nassau LOY divisions will gather Saturday, April 30th at 11:00 a.m. for refreshments provided by FREE’s Terry’s Café. Opening Ceremonies will kick off at 11:30 a.m. with the nationally ranked marching band for individuals with disabilities the FREE Players Drum Corps.
Where:
Eisenhower Park
Uniondale, NY
When:
11:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
***Great visuals as Drum Corps will perform for players from both Suffolk and Nassau LOY divisions ***
About Terry’s Café
Terry’s Café is one of FREE’s Affirmative Businesses providing full service catering. Individuals served within the FREE Network are provided with the unique opportunity to work and train in actual business setting.
About the FREE Players Drum Corps
The Free Players Drum Corps was developed at FREE’s Day Program in Old Bethpage. The Free Players Drum Corps are one of the first Special Needs Drum Corps to exist in the world. It is part of a unique theatre arts curriculum for adult men and women with talent and similar interests who have autism and other developmental disabilities. Drum Corps has been therapeutic for many of the adults that attend the program, as rhythm is a powerful tool that permeates throughout the brain. Drumming has been proven to reduce both mental and physical challenges that one may have and has enabled these men and women to work on their social skills as well as build a sense of unity and self-worth.
The Corps is comprised of 3 sections, a Drumline, Color Guard and a Front Ensemble. The Corps performs in parades, competitions and festivals, year round, never taking a season off. Each year they develop programs for Indoor Season (Winter Percussion and Winter Guard), Drum Corps Season and Marching Band Season.
In the past 3 years, FREE’s Drum Corps has made history on several occasions, traveling and performing at world class events across the country. At these world class events FREE’s men and women are embraced with open arms, respected, appreciated and have been credited for inspiring others to create similar corps around the globe. The main component that FREE’s men and women share with these world class corps, is passion; the unwavering passion, heart, determination and dedication to achieve excellence in the marching arts.
By performing in the community, the Drum Corps is helping to dissolve boundaries and educate the community on the abilities of individuals with disabilities rather than focusing on their differences.