Break the Barriers’ Performing Team Holds Tryouts for Upcoming Year to Celebrate Ability

Fresno, CA (PRWEB) July 30, 2007

Break the Barriers, Inc., the nation’s premier sports-arts center uniting the able and disabled, today announced that it will be holding tryouts for the 2007-2008 season for its world renowned performing team, The Barrier Breakers, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 from 4-6 p.m. at Break the Barriers, 8555 N. Cedar Avenue, Fresno, Calif. The public is invited to attend.

Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Role Model for Inclusion, Break the Barriers may soon be acknowledged as an International Role Model for Inclusion. The team recently completed its third international trip in May performing in Xiamen, China at the invitation of the Chinese Department of Disabled Services, The Department of Religion and The Department of Education to launch the country’s first “National Day for the Disabled.” Last year they traveled to Bucharest, Romania and performed an impressive 17 shows during a 10-day visit. Their next scheduled international trip is to Uganda, Africa in May 2008.

In addition, Barrier Breaker Nicki Hornbaker was recently featured in the July 8, 2007 New York Times Sunday Magazine article on Williams syndrome, and a video of her interview can be seen on the Times Web site at http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=0c2571b9a75962419bc3126574078296be0f7f6f.

The Barrier Breakers have 48 members on its main team, and perform at university half-times, conferences, schools and community events; and can expect to perform from one to three times each month, year-round. The travel team is smaller, and is comprised of able-bodied and disabled athletes who are ranked highest in skill, versatility, showmanship and public speaking at the time of the tryouts.

Becoming a Barrier Breaker

At the tryouts, each candidate is given two minutes to show what he or she can do in the areas of gymnastics, dance, martial arts, performance on wheels and stunts; and then given 30 seconds to explain why he or she wants to be a Barrier Breaker.

Those who qualify will be asked for a firm commitment to attend practice every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4-6 p.m., and a mandatory dance class every Monday from 5-6 p.m. Attendance is required, except for family, school or church events.

For those with less experience, the Junior Barrier Breakers will be having tryouts on July 31 from 5-6 p.m., and the coaches will be scouting for Little BBs in the three-five year old age range throughout the week.

About Break the Barriers

Fresno-based Break the Barriers is a non-profit 501 © (3) organization established in 1985. Through sports, arts, aquatics, health and fitness programs for the able bodied and the disabled, Break the Barriers is recognized as a “National Role Model for Inclusion” by the U.S. Department of Special Education, acknowledged throughout California, the United States, and abroad for its equity advocacy.

For more information call 559.432.6292 or visit http://www.breakthebarriers.org.

###