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Community Corner

Attleboro's Whiz Kid: Adoralee Silva

Speaking her feelings is not an option for Adoralee, yet dancing is her outlet for sharing her heart.

Adoralee Silva

  • Adoralee Silva, 13
  • Homeschool and classes at Oak Knoll/South Attleboro Assembly of God
  • A Whiz Kid in all areas that count: kindness, joy and sharing her talents with others.

Born somewhere in southern China, our Attleboro Whiz Kid of the week was given the first home she ever knew in South Attleboro, MA. Arriving without a name, age and close to death this young child’s mother, Gloria Silva, named her new little girl Adoralee, which means precious gift.

Adoralee began her life in South Attleboro with many health issues. Doctors at Tufts performed a bone scan and gave Adoralee an August 1997 birthday. She continues to be under the care of doctors at Tufts and Children’s Hospital Boston. She has a cleft palette and her face is malformed. Adoralee is blind in one eye, and she is unable to communicate with words. Despite all of life’s struggles, this precious gift of a child always finds joy in music and dancing. Speaking her feelings is not an option for Adoralee, yet her dancing is her outlet for sharing her heart.

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As a young girl, Adoralee began dance training and was quickly asked to join the competition team. Although sometimes it is painful, Adoralee loves to dance. It was difficult for her mother to say no, but Adoralee needed more time to grow, gain critical weight and spend needed energy on learning. A competition team would have been too much on Adoralee.

In order to use time wisely and afford the downtime needed for her health, her mother chose to focus on a single ballet art. They found the Rhode Island State Ballet in Lincoln, RI. Quickly, Gloria became an apprentice and now also dances at Simply Ballroom in Providence. Adoralee is a beautiful and accomplished dancer. She has choreographed her own pieces and recently danced a ballroom waltz for the Ballroom RI Chapter. For Adoralee, dancing makes her forget the pain. When she dances, others around her feel joy and excitement, and she brings music to life for all who watch her.

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Adoralee regularly attends the and has been nominated for the Miriam Award, which is given to one girl in the United States who has overcome adversity and walks with God. The award is based on the scripture passage in Exodus 15: 20-21 where Moses’ sister Miriam sings and dances to celebrate God. A great new area is opening up to her as Adoralee is learning to sing words. 

Over the years, her mother has stayed in contact with the Chinese adoption agency. In May, the owner who helped place Adoralee, invited her to represent all adopted children from China in the “International Children’s Day,” which was at the Chinese Consulate General of the Peoples’ Republic of China in New York. The ballet number which she performed for the Chinese Ambassador Peng Keyu, she choreographed herself.

Adoralee attends homeschool classes at Oak Knoll Sanctuary in Attleboro. Although abstract concepts are challenging for her, she is a hard worker who loves geography and math. Teachers love her and often send special notes expressing how helpful and kind she is. Despite her language difficulties, she has the innate gift to be able to read others and their responses. One desire of her heart is to work with children who have cancer.

Explaining Adoralee in words can be difficult. It seems you have to spend a little time with her and feel her beauty, which flows inside and out. Her forgiving spirit and helpful disposition are contagious, and she is gifted at listening with her ears and her heart.

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