Come Dance With Us

Creating New Opportunities for Dancers with Special Needs | Shane Bland: sbland@orlandoballet.org | 321.346.5004

DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE

Program Objective:

Come Dance With Us! provides adaptive dance training for children with special needs in Central Florida.

Program Description:

Come Dance With Us! unites the efforts of Orlando Ballet teaching artists and medical experts to provide adapted dance classes for dancers with disabilities in Central Florida. Integral to the success of Come Dance With Us! is the incredible partnership we share with both Nemours Children’s Health Systems Florida and Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children who provide both aids in the classroom and valuable insight to our teaching artists on how to give each participant a positive experience. Current programming is available for dancers three and older. Under the Come Dance With Us! umbrella are two distinct programs:

Come Dance With Us!: Held at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre during the spring and fall terms, this unique class provides training in creative dance, ballet, and jazz basics to children with various developmental, behavioral, and/or physical challenges. Each student is paired with a student mentor from the Orlando Ballet School’s advanced levels for a one-on-one dance experience. These student-mentor partnerships are maintained throughout the entire class. Teachers of this course are specifically trained and certified in the Movement Mentor© curriculum prior to teaching the class. Students who participate in the spring session are invited to perform in the end-of-year showcase with other students in the Orlando Ballet School. Information about registering your child for an upcoming session of Come Dance With Us! is available now.

Come Dance With Us!: Dance Reimagined: Orlando Ballet teaching artists teach weekly classes for participating Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County Public Schools to students in special education programs. Led by Movement Mentor© certified teachers, these 45-minute classes introduce students to ballet, jazz, and creative movement. Orlando Ballet teaching artists work closely with classroom teachers to support the overall education of each student.

Orlando Ballet Community Enrichment is currently piloting Come Dance With Us!: Heart of Hearing, a class specifically designed for deaf and hard of hearing participants.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

For ages 3-9 at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre

This unique class provides training in creative dance, ballet and jazz basics to children with various developmental, behavioral and/or physical challenges. Each student is paired with a student mentor from the Orlando Ballet School for a more collaborative dance experience.

Class meets on Fridays from 5:00-5:45pm.

Class Fee: $50 monthly
Tuition billed on the 15th of the month, September-April

Showcase Fee: $95
Due on February 1, 2025
Includes costume, t-shirt, and video of performance.

Register for Classes

For ages 10-16 at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre

This unique class provides training in creative dance, ballet and jazz basics to children with various developmental, behavioral and/or physical challenges. Each student is paired with a student mentor from the Orlando Ballet School for a more collaborative dance experience. Class meets on Mondays from 5:45-6:30pm.

Please note: there is no class on Monday, November 25.

Class Fee: $125

Register for Classes

COME DANCE WITH US! PARTNERS WITH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS AT HARRIETT’S ORLANDO BALLET CENTRE:

Nemours Children’s Health

Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

COME DANCE WITH US! HAS BEEN HELD AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

Northland Church

Unlocking Children’s Potential (UCP)

COME DANCE WITH US! IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATION:

Contact:

If you have any questions about Come Dance With Us, are interested in hosting this program or would like to participate, please contact Shane Bland, sbland@orlandoballet.org, or call (321) 346-5004.