Girl's dancing spirit unscarred by accident

By Janice De Jesus
Article Launched: 10/29/2008 11:51:28 AM PDT

CONCORD — Ariana Carra moves gracefully as her partner lifts her off the dance floor.

At a recent rehearsal at Moving Arts Dance studio, 7-year-old Ariana's countenance is serene, even as she dances from one end of the floor to the other in a series of leaps.

She is the picture of discipline at such a young age, said her dance instructor Anandha Ray, artistic director of Moving Arts Dance, as Ariana holds a focused pose — her left leg up to her left shoulder while lying on the floor.

But possessing such talent and discipline for one so young is not the only thing that makes Ariana remarkable. Ray said her ability to survive a horrific accident, and her determination to make a comeback, is what makes Ariana so extraordinary.

"What's remarkable is her attitude," Ray said. "She has such internal strength for a kid her age. This accident was not going to stop her."

Although it happened in May 2007, it still hurts to talk about the accident, said Isabel Carra, Ariana's mother. During a field trip by kindergartners from Meadow Homes Elementary School to the Oakland Zoo, Ariana and two other children were struck by a rolling maintenance cart, similar in size to a golf cart. The vehicle had been parked on the hill by a nearby crew, but some children — who were not from Meadow Homes — jumped into it and released the brake.

A boy was struck and bruised, but Ariana and another girl were pinned for a short time under the cart. The other girl suffered bruises from the accident, but as the cart hit Ariana, a tree branch that was dragged along sliced its way into her left thigh, coming out near her ankle.

Doctors performed two surgeries within a week at Children's Hospital Oakland to repair the damage, said Ariana's mother.

Ariana said she doesn't remember much about the accident, which happened the day before she was to perform in a Moving Arts Dance concert.

"I was worried and sad about my part and missing the show," Ariana said.

Her mother agrees.

"She would complain before her surgery, 'My show! My show!' " Carra said.

In the hospital ward, Ariana soon became known as "the dancer," as she would tell all the hospital staff that she was supposed to perform in a dance concert, said Ariana's 16-year-old sister Jazmin.

"That's how everyone knew who she was, because she kept telling everyone about her dancing," Jazmin said. "The doctors said they would take very good care of her legs. She was very brave."

Jazmin added that on their way home from the hospital a week later, Ariana — her leg in a cast — insisted on stopping by the dance studio.

"She couldn't stop thinking about dancing," Jazmin said. "She really loves it."

Her wish was to begin dancing again. And for Ariana, now a second-grader at Queen of All Saints Catholic School in Concord, her wish came true that September.

She started taking dance classes at Moving Arts Dance again, and under the supervision of her doctors and Ray, she gradually regained her strength and form. Ariana has performed in four dance concerts in the year since she returned.

Currently, she's gearing up for her role as one of the child zombies in the group's Halloween performance, "Night Visions," on Nov. 1.

Ray said that as her young dancers take classes and rehearse, they're learning life skills.

"We're trying to use dance to learn about life," Ray said. "They're learning how to express themselves through movement."

Dance helps young artists practice discipline and concentration. Ariana is a good example of how dance keeps her strong both physically and emotionally, Ray said.

"She's got beautiful, natural technique," Ray said. "She wants to become a professional dancer. She has everything it takes."

Carra said she's thankful to Ray and the Moving Arts Dance instructors and staff for helping Ariana through her recovery and her transition back to dancing.

"I'll never give it up," Ariana said. "Dancing is my life."

Spirited dancing
WHAT: "Night Visions," Moving Arts Dance Halloween/Day of the Dead performance
WHEN: 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Moving Arts Dance, 1281-C Franquette Ave., Concord
INFORMATION: For tickets, call 925-825-8399 or visit www.movingartsdance.org