Dance in the Schools
This year we are primarily focused on the development of our Dance in the Public Schools Program. We are bringing quality dance education to elementary schools throughout Thurston County, using a curriculum supported by Brain Compatible Dance Education (BCDE).
BCDE is an internationally recognized teaching methodology. BCDE is a structured methodology for teaching dance using a lesson plan and strategies that create an environment in which the brain is ready, willing, and able to learn. This holistic approach allows students the opportunity to become skilled dancers, critical thinkers, innovative creators, successful collaborators, and respectful responders.
To Bring South Sound Dance Access to your school community email us at: access@southsounddance.com
Community Programs
South Sound Dance Access offers programs for community members of all ages. We offer dance and movement programs for adult living communities, senior centers, assisted living communities, and more. These look like both one-time workshops and ongoing programs. Additionally we offer topic-specific workshops and classes open to the community such as creative movement, dance making 101, somatics, and more! Reach out to access@southsounddance.comto bring our programs into your community!
Current Dance in the Community Programs:
Sensory Friendly Creative Dance
Sensory Friendly Creative Dance Class is a dance and movement opportunity for kids who are neurodivergent and/or on the autism spectrum.
Creative Dance is a concept-based movement curriculum which uses developmental science to nurture foundational movement and motor skills and support mind-body connection, through games and creation opportunities. We will learn some basic dance steps across styles (Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Hip-Hop), while also playing concept-based dance games learning about Time, Space, Place, Direction, Levels, and more.
We are offering Sensory Friendly Class series in collaboration with Parks and Recreation departments at the City of Olympia and City of Lacey!
Sensory Friendly Classes are supported by our friends at sensorytoolhouse.com
Adaptive Dance for Seniors
We are pleased to be offering a class through the Olympia Senior Center. Adaptive Creative Dance for Seniors is a fun way to stay physically and mentally active while building connections with others. We use Brain Compatible Dance Education pedagogy, based on developmental and neuroscience, to create a dance class that is good for the body and mind! Dance seated, standing, or with a mobility aide!
In this class we will learn some basic Modern Dance, Ballet, and Jazz technique, adapted for a range of mobility with standing and seated options. We will also take time for playful improvisational movement and creation opportunities working together learn and make dances!
Adult Creative Contemporary
This class provides a fun opportunity for creative expression, strength building, and connection. Creative Contemporary Dance is an open-level dance class for adults of all ages drawing primarily upon Modern and Contemporary Dance techniques. In this class we will learn fundamentals of modern dance technique and dance composition concepts. We'll learn fun routines each week and have opportunities to create dances together!
Fee Assistance Program
As we continue to build our Dance in the Schools and Community Programs, we are working to create a Fee Assistance Program that can act as a bridge folks who access dance and the performing arts through our programs to be able to take the study further. This program will offer fee waivers for low-income individuals or families to access private studio education. Hence, if a child falls in love with dance through our Dance in the Schools Program and wants to be able to pursue that passion, but could not otherwise afford it, our Fee Assistance Program could help them to access studio training. If you would like to support this program directly you can make an online donation with a note that says “fee assistance” or reach out to us at access@southsounddance.com