Adaptive Dance Program

For Adults with Cognitive Disabilities

Southern California Ballet’s Adaptive Dance Program is designed for adults with cognitive and learning disabilities. Inaugurated with a grant from The Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation in 2019, SCB continues to offer discounted dance classes for members of the San Diego community.

Looking for the youth adaptive dance program, Everybody Moves? Click here.

Next Session: Dates TBD

(If you are interested in bringing an adaptive dance workshop to your group or location please email us for more information at info@southerncaliforniaballet.org)

Program Description


The adaptive dance program offers a fun, expressive outlet for physical activity which can accommodate those whose disabilities may prevent participation in other sports programs.

Throughout this series of workshops, participants, with the help of academy dancers and SCB staff, learn to express themselves through movement, be creative, and flex their imaginative and physical muscles. The workshops are designed specifically for participants with cognitive and learning disabilities, allowing anyone to experience dance and its benefits.

The benefits of adaptive dance programs include improvements to coordination/control, body awareness, balance, interpersonal skills, and self-confidence.

Our program will also teach participants snippets from whichever show the studio is rehearsing at that time (The Nutcracker in Fall or Alice in Wonderland in Spring) and will conclude in a community performance.

What is a “Pay What You Can” price structure?

“Pay What You Can” (PWYC) is a business model that does not depend on set prices for goods, but asks a customer to pay the amount that they feel the service is worth, or the amount that they are able to afford.

This model allows those who can afford to pay more than the suggested price to cover the cost of those who pay under the suggested price.

While this places a larger risk on the company itself, Southern California Ballet believes that offering this opportunity to as many people with cognitive disabilities as possible is crucial. A PWYC price structure allows us to both offset the cost of the program, which was once covered by a grant, and remove the financial barrier that some participants might face, increasing both the accessibility and equity of our program.

Dance has been proven to increase happiness and relieve stress, while serving as one of the best and most effective forms of physical exercise.

Enroll Now

Registration is currently closed. Next session dates TBD.

Adaptive dance students standing at the barre
Adaptive dance students standing with their arms outstretched
Adaptive dance students sitting in chairs with their left arms extended
Adaptive dance students standing and learning The Nutcracker Soldier Doll scene choreography
An adaptive dance student with arms outstretched
Adaptive dance students clapping
Adaptive dance students leaning with arms outstretched
Adaptive dance students standing and learning choreography
Adaptive dance students sitting with both arms stretched upwards
Adaptive dance students sitting in chairs with their left arms extended
An adaptive dance student in a grey tee and a yellow ballet skirt
An adaptive dance student standing in the center and other students getting up from chairs arranged in a circle around the edge of the room
SCB ADAPTIVE DANCE NEWS
The Real Value of Adaptive Dance Programs
The Real Value of Adaptive Dance Programs

Adaptive dance programs designed to accommodate children and adults with cognitive disabilities provide a wide range of benefits for participants, their families, and society as a whole. Any form of dance can be modified or reimagined for neurodiverse dancers. That includes elevated disciplines like ballet, which is now becoming more inclusive (and enriched by) a more diverse range of minds and bodies. Here’s why it’s so valuable for neurodiverse individuals to get opportunities to access dance.

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After its successful launch last October, Adaptive Dance program returns in spring

In October 2019, Southern California Ballet launched its first adaptive dance program. The program was designed specifically for adults with disabilities, an often overlooked community, to extend their work day while giving them physical activity, an artistic outlet, and a chance to express themselves in a way that they may have never dreamed possible.

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Free dance program created for those with disabilities
Free dance program created for those with disabilities

“Having grown up with one of my closest friends (Claire Feth) being part of the community of individuals with disabilities, this is an extremely important program that is very close to my heart,” said Martha Leebolt, SCB artistic director. “Growing up with her was a formative part of my life, and seeing her transition into adulthood helped me understand the difficulties of this stage of both her and many others’ lives.

“This led us to create this program, which I hope will flourish to become something that can enrich everyone’s lives who want to be involved,” Leebolt said.

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For adults with disabilities, another form of creative expression — through dance
For adults with disabilities, another form of creative expression — through dance

Martha Leebolt is the co-artistic director of Southern California Ballet, which was awarded a grant to start an adaptive dance program for adults with disabilities, beginning Oct. 9

It was around this time last year when Southern California Ballet was awarded a grant to start a six-week adaptive dance program for adults with disabilities, spearheaded by the dance company’s co-artistic director, Martha Leebolt.

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Press Release: Southern California Ballet inaugurates inclusive adaptive dance program for adults with special needs
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SCB Adaptive Dance News