The Ida-Homies: Idaho’s hip hop dance group for adults with Down syndrome

The Ida-Homies are showing the Treasure Valley how to dance like nobody’s watching, and to love yourself just the way you are. MERIDIAN, Idaho — Something really special happened at a recent Meridian High School basketball game. The Ida-Homies took center court at halftime to perform with the Warriorettes dance team.   Meridian’s Brooke Johnson founded the Ida-Homies.  “So, the Ida-Homies are a ten man and woman squad of adults with Down syndrome, and we come together once a week and we dance,” Johnson said.  Johnson was inspired to put the group together for her 21-year-old daughter, Sky because she loves to dance. Johnson said she still remembers the day she was born, and when she was told her baby girl had Down syndrome.  “I didn’t have the most positive experience in the hospital, they told me all the things she couldn’t do, and I looked right at the doctor, and I said we’ll see,” Johnson said. “That’s right when I knew I was going to be an advocate for her, and nobody was going to tell her what she couldn’t do, she was going to determine that. As her mom, I wanted to give her every ability to be able...