Leap into Dance
Professionals with passion!Why choose Dance as a Social and Community Participation Activity?
We are a passionate team of dance and disability professionals who offer an accessible Dance Program available through private funding or NDIS.
Leap into Dance has created a program that is individualised to every participant in small group dance and yoga classes, with a focus on creativity, building friendships and dance/yoga skills, all while working towards their NDIS goals.
With our approach to dance, accessibility and goals, our participants see:
• Increase in strength, flexibility, balance, body awareness and motor coordination
• Further development in social skills and building friendships
• Increase in confidence and choice making
• Development in skills to stay focused and participate in a group such as turn taking, watching others
• Building of self-regulation
Our program is a complementary service to therapies, often combining tools and strategies they are working on in a therapy setting to a community participation group.
Dance supports “seven neurobehavioral areas: sensory, motor, cognitive, social, emotional, rhythmic, and creative.” Dance is a way for incidental fitness, with no inherent competitiveness that goes alongside most sports. We get to have fun, be creative, be ourselves, listen to music and most of all, creative friendships with others who have a shared interest.
Our Participants have varied support needs. They include with people with: Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Physical Disabilities, Learning support needs, Behaviour concerns, Vision impairment.
Our dance classes maintain a 1:4 ratio, with Our Teacher and Teacher Assistant present in all classes.
Our Dance Styles
Classes are devised by age and support needs. All classes maintain the ratio of 1:4 with no more than 8 participants per group. During the enrolment intake we will discuss which class is most appropriate to trial. Find out below what our age groups for dance classes are.
Contemporary-Jazz
Utilising pop music and great dance tunes, we use schedules to create classes that include; learning choreographies, creating dances together, free-movement (unstructured dancing), working on dance skills using props such as jumps and leaps, tippy toes and turns.
Skills learnt: Taking turns, watching fellow participants, space awareness and proprioception, motor coordination, making choices, following the group plan, relaxation, self-regulation.
Ballet
Exploring the world of ballet using ballet music, with a schedule we follow a typical ballet class progression and include creative free movement inspired by Ballerinas and Ballet stories.
Skills Learnt: Ballet technique and posture, taking turns, space awareness and proprioception, motor coordination, making choices, following the group plan, relaxation, self-regulation.
Theatre & Performance
Developing theatre and performance skills through play based and drama activities. Strong drive to increase confidence and comfortability to be on stage. This suits participants who’s interest are story telling.
Skills Learnt: Stage craft, performance techniques such as story telling, improvisations, taking turns, space awareness and proprioception, motor coordination, making choices, following the group plan, relaxation, self-regulation.
What class would your Participant fit into?
'Kids'
Ages 6yo-12yo.
Ours Kids classes are for primary school aged children and up. We divide classes into small groups of 4-8 participants. If your child is younger please contact us today and we can make educated suggestions that will suit your child.
'Kids Plus'
Ages 6yo-16yo.
This class is for Kids ‘plus’ their parents/guardians/carers to join in the class, for kids and teens who have higher support needs. Classes are kept between 4-8 participants. Please contact us today to find out more!
Teens
Ages 13yo-16/18yo.
A class for teens to engage with their peers and enjoy dance. We encourage independence where appropriate for our teens class.
Adults
Ages 16yo-40yo+
As our adults are mostly assisted by support workers to access the class, the support workers are invited at no cost to join with us. We know our participants enjoy having their support workers with them and our support works say this is a great way to get in exercise to their weeks as well! We have some guidelines about support worker participation, contact us to find our more.
Lee Frances - How does it work? Our Consulting Occupational Therapist
Lee Frances is a NDIS registered Senior Occupational Therapist and is the Leap into Dance consultant who provides training and mentoring for the benefit of the program.
By enrolling in the program, the participant may be discussed privately with Lee Frances so that the teachers and support staff can provide appropriate strategies for success. Lee Frances attends Leap into Dance classes once per term with the participants being notified prior to which class it will be. It is highly recommended to attend these classes for Lee to see the participant within the group setting. Because we believe Lee’s input is so helpful to the program, Lee’s fees for her attendance and discussion with staff are included within the existing term fees.
Lee is available to attend the 2 bi-annual progress meetings and this is highly recommended particularly when the participant is new to the program or if there are any changes in their support needs. There may also be situations where we request for Lee to attend a class or provide one-to-one consultation in addition to her normal attendance. Where necessary, Lee is also able to produce an Occupational Therapy report to support the dance program for NDIS re-assessments. Costings of reports, additional consultations or meetings are charged as per Lee Frances’ fee and invoiced separately.
Lee’s history of the creation of the program can be found on our website.
SUPPORT IN DANCE CLASSESParent and Support Worker Participation
In every class parent/support worker participation may depend on students’ goals, individual preferences or behaviours.
Kids and Teen classes – independency is encouraged where appropriate.
Kids Plus class – is kids plus parent/caregiver/support worker who stay and assist their child in the studio space while the class is on.
Adults class – a number of Support Workers help our adult participant to access the class, they too are invited to participate if the participant would like. It this class we avoid having parents/Support Workers watch as this causes some students to be uncomfortable.
We will provide a Support Worker In Studio Guide to each new support worker when they join us for the first time.
Our parents and carers have just as much fun as our participants and we appreciate their support. Many say it is a great way to get some exercise into their week!
Additional Program Features
Leap into Dance offers additional opportunities in our social and community participation program such as:
- Performance opportunities; End of Year showcases, Video Showcases and community performances
- Holiday programs. A great chance to meet participants from other classes
- Progress Review Meetings bi-yearly
- Written progress notes
