the Barre:
n Ballet’s
rk Program Brings Dance to All faculty member. “I think there’s probably a preconceived notion that this would be a watered-down version of dance, but it really isn’t. The kids really rise to the high expectations we have of them. If we keep our expectations high, they’ll keep meeting them.” “Our curriculum is aligned with our Boston Ballet School system and Boston Public School standards,” Abernathy added. “We aim to set a high bar and our students reach it. They learn the technique.
Dancers are placed in classes according to age, and Abernathy reports that five adults with disabilities are employed with ECI as teaching assistants for the younger classes: “We hope there’s a lifelong pipeline of engagement so that our students can start at 2 and never leave and even move into the teaching role if they choose.” The September through May program, which consists of 50 parttime employees and volunteers, culminates in a May Showcase
need to be able to show it. It’s so empowering to see them get out there, perform, and be proud of what they’ve done. It’s a great culmination of the program.” “I cry every year, usually not for my kid, either,” Ostroff laughed. “Everybody is there in this one big celebration of these kids and their families. You wish it could be longer because you want to stay in that moment. And it comes at the same time as all the other kids’ recitals, so it feels like part of the
“Boston Ballet is awesome about not seeing limits. No matter where you go, most people will give you an explanation, ‘This child can’t do X because of….’ They don’t do that. They believe every kid can do everything.” — MONIKA OSTROFF, ADAPTIVE DANCE PARENT
They learn the vocabulary. They perform and all the while have a really wonderful time. There are accommodations and modifications in place to make sure it’s accessible, but it’s definitely not watered down.” “Boston Ballet is awesome about not seeing limits,” Ostroff noted. “No matter where you go, most people will give you an explanation, ‘This child can’t do X because of….’ They don’t do that. Everything is fair game and they’re very good about what they do. They believe every kid can do everything. The kids rise to the occasion.”
event, in which all classes perform for their families. “It’s a really fun opportunity to see all the students’ progress and really show off their stuff,” Abernathy said. “When all the groups are together, the younger families can see some of the older students and really see what’s possible, and the older students and families can remember how far they’ve come.” “Some of my students with autism are sensitive to noise and light, and here they are out there with loud music dancing,” Singleton added. “It’s the most transformative thing. Dance is a performance art, you
full extracurricular movement, which I think is very important to [Danniah].”
Benefits beyond the studio Adaptive Dance classes have proven to be a place where students can make great strides in several areas, starting with physical development, Abernathy said. “We really see students improving their balance and coordination, a lot of their gross motor skills
that may be delayed in terms of meeting milestones,” she noted. “There’s something about dance that all of a sudden makes meeting these milestones and learning these techniques, balance, and coordination a lot more fun. All of a sudden, when you’re in a group setting and the music is playing, and everyone is having a really joyful time, you don’t realize you can balance on one foot for 8 seconds.” In any studio, dance classes teach students far more than just how to execute a jazz square, or the difference between first position and fifth position. Learning technique, following choreography, and making corrections takes attention, concentration, and focus. The same holds true in Adaptive Dance classes, Abernathy said, making them a place where students learn realworld skills that will benefit them far beyond the barre. “Students have improved self esteem, feeling a sense of leadership and pride and also self control, not only over their physical body, but the ability to wait, the ability to work together,” she said. They also make progress interpersonally, she added, improving their ability to work with peers, the physical therapist, musicians, and instructor to move and create dance together: “There’s a lot in the dance studio you learn and skills you develop that are really transferrable to many other aspects of life.” Ostroff can attest to that. When Danniah was 7, Ostroff longed to enroll the music- and dance-loving girl, who has autism, in a dance class, only to find there weren’t any offered locally for her age. “I felt really bad. She’s always known the kids in her class go off BAYSTATEPARENT 31