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A Chance to Dance (AC2D), is an innovative outreach program produced by Dance Council of North Texas (DCNT) to introduce
at-risk communities to the joy and vitality of dance and movement—achieving benefit through inclusion-based arts in an open environment
in which all abilities can participate. In addition, the program provides an opportunity to improve social skills, confidence, self-control and
focus, as well as the ability to participate in a group setting.
The program seeks to work with teens and adults that have experienced life-altering events such as homelessness,
exposure to drug abuse, sex-trafficking, domestic violence, and more. Instructors certified in psychological and physical trauma
will work with the most vulnerable groups.
If your organization is interested in the AC2D program, please contact director@thedancecouncil.org.
A Special Thank You to Our Donors:
THE MCDERMOTT FOUNDATION Tartaglino Richards Family Foundation 
We Are Currently Working on Restarting The Dance Council of North Texas Adaptive Dance Program
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR FUTURE TEACHER OR STUDENT WORKSHOPS! For more information contact director@thedancecouncil.org
Studios currently offering Adaptive Dance classes:
Texas Ballet Theater's Adaptive Dance Program
Dance should include every student in an accessible and inspiring way. That’s why we’ve partnered with Cook Children’s to bring ballet to dancers ages 4-10 with Down syndrome or others with a diagnosis similar to, but not restricted to, Down syndrome. Classes focus on movement, rhythmic skills, and basic ballet steps, while nurturing self-expression.
Fall 2023 classes will be held at both campuses:
Dallas: Fridays from 5:15-6:00 pm beginning September 8, ages 4-8
Fort Worth: Saturdays beginning September 9; 3:30-4:15 pm (ages 4-7) and 4:30-5:15 pm (ages 8-10)
For more information about this program, please contact Alexis Leffel, Educational Programs Manager at alexis@texasballet.org.
Free Shining Stars Classes for Special Needs. Chamberlain Ballet Company offers free weekly classes for children and young adults (6 and up) with special needs at the Chamberlain School of Ballet in Plano, TX. For more information, please contact Chamberlain Ballet at ContactUs@ChamberlainBallet.org or call 214-412-8589.
Ballet North Texas
Empower R.E.A.C.H. and Adaptive R.E.A.C.H. are committed to serving all members of the community, including those with special needs and disabilities, and socially and economically challenged families. Our goal is to facilitate a safe, educational, and stimulating environment where individuals of all walks of life can benefit from structured classical dance and music instruction. We strive to maintain a healthy relationship between student and instructor to ensure the needs and growth of each student is being met through individualized class placement.
Programming is inclusive regardless of race, national origin, disability status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or gender. We believe dance and music are vital in improving social and motor skills, cognitive growth, self-esteem, confidence, creativity, imagination, and stress relief. As a part of R.E.A.C.H., Ballet North Texas and North Texas Conservatory offer sensory friendly performances, scholarships for training, and other performance opportunities. We are fully committed to offering these classes to positively impact and change the lives of students in the North Texas area.
What is Adaptive Dance?
Adaptive dance is the term for a dance/creative movement program that has been tailored for individuals with differing abilities, focusing on creating an open environment in which all abilities can participate. Participants learn a variety of dance steps, games and other activities that have everyone moving to the music. Props such as musical instruments, scarves, puppets, balls, and stretch bands are often used to enhance the overall movement and creative experience. In addition the program provides an opportunity to improve social skills, confidence, as well as the ability to participate in a group setting. Parent/volunteer assistance may be required for younger age groups, or those with limited movement.
Our Mission
Adaptive Dance, an innovative outreach program of the Dance Council of North Texas:
- Is the primary resource for adaptive dance in the North Texas area,
- serves children and adults in adaptive dance classes
- disseminates information through its website and the Dance publication
- fosters training of dance educators and dance/movement therapists through workshops, intensives and school outreach programs.
Our Vision
To introduce persons with different abilities to the joy and vitality of dance and movement— achieving benefit through inclusion-based arts.
Past Annual Adaptive Dance Workshop and Training Programs
- Presented by the Dance Council in collaboration with Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, this day-long workshop is designed for dance educators, studio owners, creative art therapists, and anyone interested in learning how to teach inclusion-based arts, which focuses on creating an open environment in which children and adults of all abilities can participate. Through lectures, demonstrations, movement experiential, and role-playing, participants will gain knowledge, confidence, and skills to use adaptive dance with a variety of populations and settings. Check out photos!
- An Adaptive Dance Training Program for therapists from Our Children's House at Baylor to coincide with their Adaptive Dance Fancy Feet curriculum. Therapists include Pt's, OT's, Speech Therapists, and Child Life Therapists from a variety of clinics in the DFW area. The Dance Council funds this workshop to serve it's mission in training educators the ability to "introduce persons with disabilities the joy and vitality of dance and movement, as well as achieving benefit through inclusion-based arts." This workshop is conducted by two dance/movement therapists in the Dallas area currently doing this work with children, Lynn Moon Shellenberg, MPS, R-DMT, Yoga Ed, and Suzy Rossol Matheson, MA,BC-DMT, NCC. The workshop curriculum includes a mix of both experiential, as well as theory.
Past Agencies Served
Autism Treatment Center of Dallas (Dallas, TX)
Autumn Leaves of Garland (Garland, TX)
Catholic Charities of Dallas- Brady Senior Center East Dallas (Dallas, TX)
Catholic Charities of Dallas- Neuhoff Senior Center at Marillac in West Dallas (Dallas, TX)
CC Young Senior Center (Dallas, TX)
Brookhaven Nursing Center (Carrollton, TX)
Dallas ISD Homeless Education Summer Program (Dallas, TX)
Emeritus Senior Living-Lake Highlands (Dallas, TX)
Juliette Fowler Senior Living (Dallas, TX)
Legacy Personal Care (Lewisville, TX)
Our Children’s House Baylor: Adaptive Dance Program (Dallas/Ft. Worth)
Mayhill Hospital: Senior Oasis Intensive Outpatient Program (Denton, TX)
Nexus Recovery Center (Dallas, TX)
Silverado Senior Living (Plano, TX)
Summer Glen Senior Living (Dallas, TX)
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children: Chance to Dance Program (Dallas, TX)
The Waterford at Plano Assisted Living (Plano, TX)
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