Kara Breze is a hugger. She's also quite the dancer, and there was a lot of both going on at The Celebration of Life's "A Very Special Prom."

"She's very social; she loves people," said her mother, Kathy, as her 25-year-old daughter raced to greet a friend at a nearby table that was decked out in flowers, bits of costume jewelry and well-dressed dolls.

Ms. Breze, who attended the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Edgewood and lives in North Huntingdon, signed a greeting to Chaz Reese, of McKeesport, another of the 32 prom-goers.

The Celebration of Life was putting on its second annual dance for disabled adults. The prom was held July 19 at the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer's St. Anne Hall in Elizabeth Township.

If God truly is in the details, then it was a very spiritual evening.

Despite myriad well-placed fans in the large hall, there was no escaping the 90-degree day outside. Yet the place was perfumed with the scent of flowers, which seemed to be everywhere.

"We're calling them 'resurrection flowers,' " said Tina Rusiski, of Greensburg, one of the dance organizers and a driving force behind the nonprofit organization, which provides social and, eventually, work-skills services for disabled adults.

Five local funeral homes donated arrangements that the prom committee dismantled to make boutonnieres, baskets for the tables and other decorations.

At the far end of the hall, Harry Schreckengost, of West Deer, aka Harry the DJ, had set up his light and sound show.

Long tables were laden with pasta, fruit, cookies, chips and other dance-food staples. Across the way, three large punch bowls brimmed with red punch.

"Tina and my mom [Pat Houpt] sat in her living room talking about something like this four, maybe five, years ago," said volunteer David Houpt.

At least 30 volunteers staffed the event.

No one was a wallflower at the dance, not if Ms. Rusiski had her say. She approached everyone, from shy promgoers to the nuns who dropped by to watch and help, and arranged dancing partners.

Stephen Steudler, 25, of McKeesport, was out on the floor, but he spent most of his first song taking digital photos of the others dancing.

Alan Spencer, 22, of North Versailles, attended the dance with his aunt and cousin, Kimberly and Kalynn Spencer.

Ms. Spencer bought her nephew a new suit for the occasion.

"I thought he looked very handsome," she said.

Mr. Spencer attends a life skills program four days a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the prom was a welcome bonus, his aunt said.

"You only have one chance to try and enjoy life, I don't care who you are or what you do," she said, pointing out an older prom-goer on the dance floor.

"She was up in age and she danced better than me!" Ms. Spencer said.

Early in the evening, Ms. Rusiski made certain Mr. Spencer got his turn.

She gently guided him to the dance floor, where he and another recruit, Sister Michaela Dungelova, joined hands and gingerly swayed to the music.

"It was so nice seeing Alan smiling," Ms. Spencer said.

Tracy Balcerek, 33, of Irwin, took advantage of the complimentary makeovers, courtesy of Mary Kay Cosmetics representatives Lynn McGuire and Mary Beth Nolan.

Jessica Patrick, 15, of Coraopolis, had met Ms. Rusiski at an arts camp. Jessica --or J.J. -- has some experience in cosmetology and on this particular day was set up to do hairstyles.

"I'm going to take a chance and let them do my makeover," said Miss Balcerek, laughing.

But first she had to remove her bedazzled, pink baseball cap.

"Can't have you getting your hair done, then having hat hair," said Mrs. Nolan, of Plum.

"Nooo!" agreed Miss Balcerek with a smile before she happily surrendered, taking a seat at the make-up table.

Much of the cosmetics samples were donated by company representatives. Volunteers supplied food and drink. Brian Barnes, of Armbrust, Westmoreland County, was the tech guy. Volunteers took photos and videos, which he turned into on-the-spot prints and DVDs.

"The dance was supposed to end at 8, but the last guest stayed until 9:15, we were having too much fun," Ms. Rusiski said. "We were showing images on a computer screen, pictures the volunteers shot -- we had over 800 images -- and it just went on and on and on."