BodyWise Dance offers therapy-informed performing arts training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our Inclusive Dance Lab is a way to share what we are learning in the studio and onstage, locally and in global partnerships. Here are some of our discoveries to date.
A Hoberman sphere is a great prop for encouraging breath control and focus.
Emotional benefit. When we create performances together, we express our fullest range of emotions and the result is a sense of satisfaction, connection, and delight. The ability to sustain direct eye contact improves feelings of belonging and supports friendship.
Cognitive benefit. When we rehearse together, we edit and refine our work by clarifying our choices, learning sequences, and setting cues. We practice and make progress. We volunteer ideas by practicing communication, self-advocacy, and independence.
Physical benefit. When we dance together, we strengthen our bodies and voices, becoming more agile and resilient overall. We reach, balance, march, and kick to make our bodies more expressive. This translates to improved leg strength, thereby avoiding fall injuries and enjoying greater physical confidence.
MVLE Performance Group
Social benefit. When we perform together, we participate in a community − sometimes leading, sometimes following − always aware of the ensemble. This awareness leads to greater sensitivity and compassion.
Communal benefit. When we include the audience in our performances, we become more aware of our shared interests and experiences. The result is changed attitudes, acceptance, and support on the sides of both audience and performers. It is community integration at its best.
Learn about our recent projects
A final bow
MVLE Moves Performance Group For the past four years, BodyWise Dance has led an Inclusive Dance program for MVLE, a service organization for people with I/DD, including diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Together, the ensemble of professional performers and beginning-level dancers create original stage productions which tour to local venues such as the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Fort Belvoir USO, and George Mason’s Hylton Center for the Performing Arts.
Creating duets
Fairfax County Therapeutic Recreation’s SPOTLIGHT series. Launched in winter 2019, this weekend workshop series develops movement skills, rhythm, vocal strength, and leadership. Each series culminates in a performance for family and friends. Designed for people age 16 and up. No prior experience is necessary, beginners and experienced artists are welcome.
Inclusive Dance webinars
We have begun a FREE inclusive dance webinar series about Margot Greenlee and BodyWise Dance’ approach to leading dance and performance projects with people who have some form of intellectual and developmental disability (autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, Down syndrome). Listen to learn more about class structure, informal evaluation methods, body percussion warm-ups, and using personal story as a way to start new choreography projects. These webinars are sponsored and archived by the Eurasia Foundation.