Special Needs - There is a Dancer Within Each of Us

Dance for children with Special Needs
The general perception is that dance is for the selected few and not for children with any disability. However, most school teachers are aware that dance, when taught well, holds benefits for all children regardless of physical or mental disabilities. The Academy’s Special Needs Project helps to broaden awareness and provide children and teachers with the opportunity to experience the benefits for themselves.

Aims of the Special Needs Project
The main aim of the project is to make dance accessible to all those who would not normally be able to enjoy it due to a disability or special need. Through the dance classes children are being educated in life skills whilst at the same time experiencing dance as an art form.

Recognised Benefits for Children

• Raising their physical co-ordination powers as well as improving posture and breathing
• Increasing their self-confidence, self-awareness and self-discipline, as well as promoting team building
• Developing a greater sense of social skills through the enjoyment of   dance
• Earning respect from their peers
• Developing listening and concentration skills
• Promoting a sense of pride and achievement
• Developing memory skills
• Improving self-initiative

Funding
In 1990, the Academy began a programme of dance tuition for children with Special Needs at its Headquarters in London with the assistance of Wandsworth Council. Further support has come form the Ward Blenkinsop Trust, Goldman Sachs International and the Mercers Company.

Thanks to the recent added support of Barclays Community Fund the Academy is now able to offer more schools the chance to benefit from the programme and also train more existing dance teachers.

In 2002 Barclays global commitment to the community amounted to £32 million, which includes 1% of UK pre-tax profits. As one of the UK's largest corporate community contributors, the bank aims to achieve real and lasting benefit both for the community and Barclays, by supporting education, social inclusion, people with disabilities, the arts and the environment. We continually explore imaginative, new ways of working with our communities and we are pleased to support The Royal Academy of Dance in the valuable work they do.

For more information about the Special Needs Project please contact:

Mia Romanus
Training Department
t: +44 (0)207 326 8000
f: +44 (0)027 924 3129
e: courses@rad.org.uk

Why not search our registered teacher database, click here.
or click here to find out more about RAD’s Dance School.