American DanceWheels Foundation has brought its WheelOne™ syllabus into two distinct areas of education; public schools and universities.
Public Schools
American style Ballroom and Latin Wheelchair Dancing can be used as a physical education curriculum for students with disabilities. It removes the isolation that many other activities create since it requires a mix of these students with able bodied partners.
American DanceWheels is currently teaching in the Philadelphia school district, offering the training and skills needed to make wheelchair dancing a viable option to their students.
Dancing has proven to have a significant impact in public schools. While it is a distinctly physical activity open to students with disabilities, it is also very social in nature. It encourages integration of disabled students with others in the school and the community overall. Wheelchair dancing also helps to build respect among the partners.
Universities
American DanceWheels is proud to announce that we have developed the first accredited course in Wheelchair Ballroom and Latin Dance in the United States. This course was made possible through a $10,000 Quality of Life Grant from The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. This program premiered in February, 2008 and is developing new seated and standing wheelchair dancers every semester.
The Wheel One™ syllabus teaches a specialized skill that is perfect for both future dance teachers as well as future therapists. Able bodied students learn all four (4) perspectives of the dances (able-bodied male, male wheelchair dancer , able-bodied female and female wheelchair dancer). Students will get a much better understanding of what it is like to be in a wheelchair.
Students will learn adaptations required for working with a diverse group of dancers. This training can even lead to a full ADF Certification Course Program.
An introduction is available as a seminar and/or performance.
Contact American DanceWheels for more details.
Click here to read an article about ADF from the University of Delaware Messenger Magazine.
Click here to read a report on the end of the first semester at the University of Delaware.