Young Dance offers opportunities for children to step out. Young people with disabilities who want to take part in dance will get a chance to strut their stuff, thanks to the Young Dance program. Young Dance has received funding from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and VSA Minnesota for All Abilities Dancing, a new program designed to give youth living with physical disabilities a quality dance experience that emphasizes ability and redefines dance for the community. The new program specifically offers dance classes to boys and girls living with mobility impairments. 
For 20 years, Young Dance has offered a place for youth in the community to build body and spirit through the creative expression of dance. The non-profit program, which is based in Minneapolis, provides young people the opportunity for artistic expression, for achievement of high quality performance, and for appreciation of cultural and artistic diversity. The Dance Company and school collaborate with professional artists, to forge meaningful community partnerships and push the boundaries of the art and practice of dance. The company stages an annual spring dance concert and performs at a number of events around the region. Young Dance also offers classes and scholarships for students who are unable to pay.
Funds for All Abilities Dancing are provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature. With a state grant, Young Dance is now excited to launch the only adaptive and integrated mixed ability dance program in the Twin Cities region. Following a successful summer workshop for boys and girls living with a range of physical disabilities the opportunity to explore movement, Young Dance is moving forward with the help of the state funding to expand the program.
Classes in Adaptive Creative Dance and Partnering for All Abilities will be offered throughout the school year, geared toward boys and girls with mobility impairments. Adaptive Creative Dance explores elements of dance with a focus on positive body awareness, creativity, teamwork, motor co-ordination, and personal expression.
Partnering for All Abilities invites dancers with and without mobility impairments to be paired together and dance with one another exploring communication, partnering, and tools to create and perform dances.
Anyone wanting information about upcoming classes can visit www.youngdance. org or contact Jennifer at [email protected]
