My Joyful Dance (Ages 7-17)

My Joyful Dance is an adaptive ballet class specifically tailored for children with disabilities, especially Down syndrome. This class was created in 2014 by Mrs. Laura Escobar, BFA in Dance. The program is designed for children above the age of seven. The class is free of charge. Admittance into this program as a new participant requires a brief one-on-one with the instructor to determine the capabilities and level of instruction needed. The objective of the class is to invite children with Down syndrome and other disabilities, to participate in a ballet program tailored to their specific needs and abilities. The objectives of the program are:

- To use dance/ballet to enrich the lives of young people with learning disabilities.
- To offer them a space where they can come together with people with similar disabilities and experience the joy of dancing and all the benefits dance offers.
- To offer them a sense of personal accomplishment through a positive, creative, and fun-filled movement experience.
- To develop the skills of coordination, spatial awareness, self-discipline, confidence, team building, and rhythm. Develop their motor skills, and social and personal skills.
- To improve their general health condition with the practice of dance.

Dancers are required to wear pink or black ballet attire, a leotard, tights, ballet slippers, and a ballet skirt. Males may wear black bike shorts and a white T-shirt. Dancers shall wear their hair up in a bun with a bun holder, no facial hair, no jewelry and no nail polish.

To register please call 915-747-5142 or email us at PPP@UTEP.EDU