An opportunity for children with Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or any other developmental and intellectual disabilities to explore the joy of dance with a supportive and knowledgeable team.
Classes are adapted to match the strengths and abilities of each dancer. Participants will focus on creative movement, musicality, strength and flexibility, and coordination in a welcoming and structured studio environment. Caregivers may observe and/or participate in classes if they wish.
Charlottesville Ballet follows the guidance of the Boston Ballet Adaptive Dance Teacher training program as well as from pediatric physical and occupational therapists from Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Intake forms are required upon enrollment to ensure that our faculty can help accommodate each child’s needs.
As we create this new program, we acknowledge that we still have many areas of improvement to be more inclusive to those with disabilities; we are actively learning and striving to make those changes in our studios, on our stages, and in the field of dance!
Academic Year | Adaptive Dance
Downtown Location: IX Art Park at 949 Second Street SE
We also welcome any child with a disability who feels comfortable in a more academic dance class setting, without an assistant or caregiver, to join in any of our First Steps, Children’s Division, or Student Division classes at Charlottesville Ballet Academy (CBA). We recognize that no child learns the same; everyone has unique and diverse needs that deserve to be celebrated and included.
For any class suggestions, to request accommodations (like a class assistant or buddy for your child), or for any other request you would like to make for your child to be successful in their classes at CBA this year (ex. visual schedules, stim toys, time or space to decompress), please communicate in our parent portal or email CBA Principal Heather Rogers at [email protected].
2024-2025 Academic Year Calendar
| September 3 | Classes Begin |
| October 31 | Halloween – NO CBA Classes |
| November 26 – January 5 | CBA Thanksgiving & Winter Break – NO CBA Classes |
| January 6 | CBA Classes Resume |
| January 20 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day – NO CBA Classes |
| March 31 – April 5 | CBA Spring Break – NO CBA Classes |
| May 23 | Last Day of CBA Academic Year Classes |
Hear from some of our Adaptive Dance participants:
“Charlottesville Ballet Academy’s Adaptive Dance class fosters both acceptance and independence. The wonderful teachers make the class challenging and fun, and devote caring attention to each student. My daughter has greatly enjoyed learning skills, meeting new friends, and expressing herself through dance! This unique program is of tremendous value to the Charlottesville area.”
-Dawn, mother of participant age 7 diagnosed with Autism
“We are so grateful for the adaptive dance class offered by the Charlottesville Ballet. Our daughter Kate has cerebral palsy; she is nonverbal and cannot ambulate without assistance, and she also loves music and anything involving movement. For disabled children in our area, opportunities for adaptive extracurriculars are so rare, and we never dreamed that she would be able to participate in a dance class. For Kate the adaptive dance class offers the joy of moving, the chance to try new things, and skill building as she works on following the teachers’ cues and emulating new motions. That the class is free makes such a difference to our family, as we are often contending with equipment costs and the prospect of essential home modifications as she grows. Kate is tremendously proud of her hard work in the class, and we appreciate that CB’s approach to inclusion means that she has the opportunity to show us her hard work.”
-Kelly, mom of Kate, Adaptive Dance student