Special Steps Founder, BrekLynn Pancheri

BrekLynn Pancheri, is a senior in high school with a passion for dance and a heart for inclusion. Her journey began at the tender age of 4 when her first best friend, who had special needs, opened her eyes to the challenges these children often face. This early experience inspired BrekLynn to seek out opportunities to serve her community, especially as a Peer Mentor for special education students and a volunteer with organizations like Game Changers of Idaho.

Dancing since she was 3 years old, BrekLynn wanted to blend her love for dance with her commitment to children with special needs. When she couldn’t find a special needs dance program, she took matters into her own hands and founded Special Steps, a dance program designed to make every child feel loved, included, and celebrated. Through Special Steps, BrekLynn also wrote a children’s book about inclusion called Darla & Belle: Becoming Best Friends, which she reads to elementary students across the Treasure Valley, spreading the message of acceptance and kindness.

As a dedicated dancer, BrekLynn spends 20-30 hours a week honing her skills. She’s been a varsity dance team member for four years, winning numerous awards as both a soloist and team member, including national recognition in the kick division. She also teaches private dance lessons to students aged 3-17 and is in her fourth year as a dancer at The Spot Dance Studio. BrekLynn dreams of continuing her dance journey at the collegiate level.

At 16, BrekLynn was invited to compete in her first pageant, Miss Idaho's Teen, and she won first place, earning the opportunity to represent Idaho at the Miss America’s Teen pageant in 2025. Alongside her achievements in dance and pageantry, BrekLynn is a strong student with excellent grades, graduating high school with several college credits and significant progress toward her cosmetology license.

Beyond her academic and extracurricular accomplishments, BrekLynn is deeply committed to her role as a peer mentor for special education students at her school. She volunteers during their PE periods and hosts 1-2 Special Steps Dance Camps every month. She also regularly visits elementary schools to share her book, Darla and Belle Becoming Best Friends, which is now available on Amazon.

Looking to the future, BrekLynn plans to pursue a degree in therapy, with the goal of expanding Special Steps into a full-fledged therapy program and dance studio. Through her work, she hopes to continue making a difference in the lives of children with special needs, showing them how truly loved and valued they are.