Dallas Dance Council, Sandunga Dance Studio host Adaptive Dance Workshop

by Todd Maternowski

CARROLLTON — On Friday, August 24th, the Dallas Dance Council, along with Scottish Rite Children's Hospital and Sandunga Dance Studio, will be hosting an Adaptive Dance Workshop at Sandunga's studio in Carrollton.

This day-long workshop is designed for teachers, dance educators, studio owners, creative art therapists, or anyone else interested in learning how to teach inclusion-based arts, which focuses on creating an open environment in which children of all abilities can participate.

According to the Dance Council, the workshop will help participants to gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills to be able to work with special needs children. The workshop includes lectures, demonstrations, experimental movement, role-playing, and much more.

The planned schedule of events for the workshop is as follows:

* 9:00 Registration

* 9:30-10:00 Welcome & Introductions

* 10:00-10:50 Chance to Dance: Working with Physically Impaired Children

This session will give an overview of the ‘Chance to Dance’ program for orthopedic patients at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children ages six to fourteen, in partnership with the Dance Council’s successful Adaptive Dance outreach program begun in 2003. Through demonstration and experiential role-playing led by this year’s ‘Chance to Dance’ teachers, participants will increase their awareness of the different kinds of physical disabilities, learn how to modify basic dance steps, and most importantly be able to include children with physical impairments in your dance studios and communities.

* 10:50-11:00 Break

* 11:00-11:50 Shoot for the Stars: Working with Cognitively Impaired Children

This session will demonstrate how dance/movement therapy and creative movement is currently implemented through Chamberlain Performing Arts Center of Plano, TX through an adaptive dance program for children ages 3-14 with special needs such as Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, and sensory integration dysfunction. Through demonstration and experiential learning participants will gain a better understanding of how to work with cognitively impaired children by learning creative movement activities.

* 12:00-1:00 Lunch

* 1:00-1:50 Dancing on Wheels

This session will increase participants’ comfort with maneuvering and handling wheelchairs. Participants will have an opportunity to dance and move with the wheelchairs by creating a group dance.

* 1:50-2:00 Break

* 2:00-2:50 Break Out Sessions

This is a time for participants to break up in small groups and discuss ways to apply material covered to their own work. An assignment will be given to each group that will be presented at the closing.

* 3:00-3:30 Closing/Evaluations

The Dance Council was founded in 1973 to promote and support dance in North Texas. It is an organization of professional and amateur dance companies, teachers, performers, students, dance enthusiasts and businesses. Serving North Texas, the Council provides cultural and educational opportunities to people of all ages, races, and abilities through dance festivals, master classes, scholarships, and additional activities and collaborations. Other Dance Council events include the Dance for the Planet and the Dallas Dance Festival.

Sandunga Dance Company has been in Carrollton since 2003, primarily teaching and performing mambo and salsa. The mission of Sandunga includes identifying, promoting and funding other artist organizations that share the same vision and hope for community.

Sources: Adaptive Dance, Dance Council, Sandunga Dance