Creative Movement and Musical Exploration for Children with Special Needs

For over ten years, the Boston Ballet has partnered with Children’s Hospital Boston to present Adaptive Dance - a ten-session movement exploration program for young people with Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The Adaptive Dance mission is to provide a positive, creative, and inspiring experience for children with special needs by enriching their lives with challenging movement, rhythmical music, lasting friendships, and a sense of personal accomplishment. The program encourages improvement in coordination, balance, posture, focus, self-esteem, self-expression, social skills and musicality.

Participants must enjoy music and/or dance! Serving children, teens and young adults with Down Syndrome ages 2 – 25, and children/ teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders ages 8 – 15.

“…I like (Adaptive Dance Teacher) Gino’s classes because he doesn’t underestimate me or any of the other kids just because we have special needs.”

Student from the Autism Class

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

A.    Trial Class: One initial trial class is required to determine if class will be a good fit for the student.

B.    Classes for children and young adults with

      Down Syndrome

• Location: Boston Ballet - Boston & Newton Studios
• One 1-hour class per week for 10 weeks
• Fall session schedules vary – contact Tori Westcott for more information

C.   Classes for children and young adults with

     Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Location: Boston Ballet - Boston Studio
• 1 one-hour class per week for 10 weeks
• Fall sessions held on Saturday mornings
• Very limited one-on-one support available

D.   Cost: $175 per ten-week session + $15 annual registration fee;

      Financial assistance may be available.

If you are interested in learning more about the Adaptive Dance program, please contact Tori Westcott at vwestcott@bostonballet.org or call 617-456-6208.

*Classes serving young adults with a range of developmental delays and intellectual challenges will be offered in the North Shore beginning in March, 2013!