Kyle Meservey knew what he wanted when he pitched the idea for a “Dazzle Prom” in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I like to dance,” he said.
Kyle, a member of the Las Vegas Nevada Sky Canyon Stake, especially loves dancing to the “Cha Cha Slide,” and worked with community leaders to host the second annual dance for people with special needs on Feb. 13 at the stake center.
“This whole event is made of love, and not just love from the people of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Sky Canyon Stake President Mark McRae, noting the community’s support of the event.
“It’s a great expression of love for each other,” he said.
Cheerleaders in front of the Sky Canyon Stake Center greeted the invited guests as they walked arm-in-arm with young men and women from the Sky Canyon and Lone Mountain stakes.
Of the more than 230 participants, including volunteers, 80 with special needs arrived via personal vehicles, public transportation, or ride sharing. Some people traveled more than two hours to attend the party.
President McRae said the venue was packed.
Benjamin Ray, a Las Vegas resident, was unable to attend the dance because the location was outside the exclusion zone for paratransit services. He contacted the organizers and told them that he could not participate because the carpool service was too expensive. Shortly thereafter, he received a call back. Apparently someone paid for it.
he was shocked. “Wait, what?” Ray describes himself as “one of those people who doesn’t ask for too much from people.”
His car arrived half an hour later and he arrived at the party. “When I walked in, everyone was looking forward to seeing me,” he said.
The young people who volunteered that night did so as “buddies” of those in attendance, so “you’ll have friends there to help and guide you throughout the night,” McCrae said. The companions helped with serving meals, dancing with partners, and any other activity participants needed help with.
President McRae’s son, Jacob McRae, was a friend of his brother Braxton, with whom he danced the night away. “He loves Taylor Swift,” Jacob said.
“He doesn’t usually do that, so you could tell he was really happy,” Jacob said. He hopes events like this will help “everyone be kinder” to people with special needs.
Inside the building, burgundy and white curtains and string lights hung from the ceiling as attendees entered the hall.
In addition to dancing, Dazzle Prom had something for everyone, including cornhole, coloring, concessions, and more. Friends gathered around and took pictures in front of the sparkling photo wall.
About 150 volunteers helped prepare and host this much-anticipated event, said Darcy Schlig, stake communications director for the Sky Canyon Stake.
For some of the organizers, it was life-changing.
“I felt so much love there,” Schurig said, reflecting on her deeper understanding of the needs of people with special needs.
Benjamin Ray, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 13, said his condition was “sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse.”
For example, a physically limiting condition like cerebral palsy can make it difficult to move, earn an income or find friends, making daily life even more difficult due to the effects of the illness, Ray said.
For Ray, Jesus Christ “helped me a lot, because honestly, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here.”
Although there have been “ups and downs,” “I don’t think God will put anything on you that you can’t handle,” he said.
Ray sometimes wonders why he was diagnosed. “God, what did I do to make this happen?”
“I got it. It’s about helping people who are poorer than me.”
Thinking of others with similar needs, Kyle reached out to City Councilman Francis Allen Palenske, whom he met at a city council meeting discussing the Lone Mountain Nevada Temple. He had heard that a prom for people with special needs was being held in South Las Vegas.
Unfortunately, his local paratransit service would not have made it accessible, which is a problem faced by many people with special needs. He suggested holding the prom in North Las Vegas, and Allen Palenske agreed to help coordinate it.
His father, Chris Meservay, commented on Kyle’s tenacity.
Kyle’s tenacity was built on strengthening the Sky Canyon Stake’s commitment to hosting fun and accessible events for both special needs people and stake members.
“We have the opportunity to pursue that person. At baptism, we make a covenant to grieve with those who mourn and to comfort those who need comfort,” President McRae said.
“This is a population that needs comfort,” he continued, addressing the special needs community.
“This was an opportunity for us to keep our covenants, to be covenant-keeping members, and to make sure that we are all counted and accountable, as we learned in general conference.”
