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As a firm believer in the power of dance, I couldn’t help but grin at the gym when a morning talk show host announced today was “National Interpretive Dance Day”.  After googling any combination of national, interpretive, dance, and day, I was disappointed to find out it was not actually a real thing, but I’ve still been walking around with jazz hands all morning! This faux holiday coincides with our first announcement for our fall schedule, which also happens to be about dance! Despite my (and sorry Ms. Andrea, you too) lack of dance coordination skills, we are excited to announce that Toneworks will be offering an Adaptive Dance and Movement class beginning this fall with the lovely Maureen Cavanaugh!

In the Adaptive Dance and Movement class, individuals work in inclusive groups of 4-6 to focus on gross and sensorimotor coordination through the use of rhythmic movement and dance. Students will learn short dance sequences to improve skills like joint attention and following directions. Sequences are broken down into simple steps using both auditory and visual cues to set all participants up for success. In addition, basic adapted yoga poses and breathing exercises are incorporated to improve focus, balance, and breath support. Participating in these creative music movement games is a fun way keep your kids active and increase self awareness of one’s body in space!

Maureen is the Music Therapist for Edina Public Schools and a Dance Instructor/Choreographer for 5 Star Dance Studio. She holds a B.A. in Theater from The College of St. Benedict, and a B.S. in Music Therapy from Augsburg College. Having a passion for working with children of all ages and abilities, Maureen enjoys integrating various art forms in her teaching as a way to tap into each child’s strengths and interests.

Sessions run for 6 weeks, each class is 45 minutes in length, and all classes are grouped by age or development level. Because it is inclusive, multiple diagnosis are welcome, but participants must be ambulatory and able to be in a 45 minute group session. Parents, caregivers, or PCAs are welcome to join and assist as needed!

To find out more information about class times, location, and rates, please contact us for more information!