By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
UNDER the mirror ball every week at the Hallam Recreation Hall is an army of disco divas who have tapped, cheered, twirled and sung their way into Andy Zammit’s heart.
It’s called ‘Andy’s Discobility’ and has kept the former performer and dance teacher smiling from ear to ear for six years.
“My cousin has had to fill in for me a few times and he reckons it’s the best job in the world.
“I get up in the morning with a big smile on my face and rush out the door; I can’t wait to get here,” he said.
Owner of ‘Andy’s Cats Corner Dance School’ Mr Zammit was approached by disability support service, Scope, to run a private disco for people with a disability and now operates six discobilities throughout the south-east.
“We get people from Wallara, Outlook, Blairlogie and some who come along with their parents or carers and it’s fantastic, it’s something different,” he said.
For more than hour every Monday morning, resident ‘DJ Andy’ can get up to 80 people at his discobilities which are fitted out with strobe lighting and musical hits from the ’50s to today.
“They can do whatever they want here,” he explained.
Making sure he finds the time to have a dance as well, Mr Zammit said he’d seen the disco improve much more than just a dance move.
“I wouldn’t call them miracles but they’re pretty close, I’ve had some participants that had never spoken before and their first word has been ‘Andy.’
“And others who have never danced before are dancing here and at home and I get thankyous from parents,” he explained.
The open age event costs $6 per disco.
