ADAPTIVE DANCE

At Grand Rapids Ballet School, we believe in the therapeutic power of dance. That’s why our Adaptive Dance program offers “Explorer Dance” for children with disabilities and “Moving with Parkinson’s” for individuals with the disease. These classes allow participants of all abilities to experience the joy of dance within a supportive community while building camaraderie with others.

We also take the power of dance to our community through partnerships with schools throughout Grand Rapids and West Michigan with Dance Immersion and Escape to the Ballet.

Classes are held at our Meijer-Royce Center for Dance as well as at satellite locations throughout West Michigan. Specific details regarding schedule and location information can be found below. Click Here to download the 2023-24 School Year Calendar!

Explorer Dance

“Explorer Dance” is a 60-minute, beginning-level ballet class that emphasizes balance, coordination, and creative expression for children and young adults, ages 10-19, with disabilities. The class focuses on maintaining a consistent routine and structure by encouraging students to follow a set of expectations set in place by our trained faculty.

The class features an inclusive and respectful space with an emphasis on developing a positive class environment. Instruction moves at a slower pace, using more frequent teacher-modeling and making connections between shapes that are created with the body. Instruction includes more explanations and breaking down of concepts. Although the class includes technique instruction, the focus centers more on engagement and celebration of movement.

The warm-up includes the “Brain Dance Method,” which warms up the body and brain to increase blood flow by moving through developmental movement patterns (tactile, core-distal, cross-lateral, and body-side). The class also includes opportunities for the dancers to move creatively through improvisation. Students enjoy interacting and building community with their fellow classmates and receiving support from one another each week.

2023-24 Explorer Dance Class

Ages
10-19

Dress Code
Girls: Black leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet shoes
Boys: Black pants, black socks, black ballet shoes, and plain white t-shirt

Tuition
Grand Rapids Ballet is proud to offer this class free of charge. A $20 non-refundable registration fee applies.

SCHEDULE

DAYTIME
Monday6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

2023-24 Explorer Dance Schedule

Grand Rapids Ballet School

First Semester- September 5, 2023 – January 20, 2024

Second Semester- January 22, 2024 – June 1, 2024

Moving with Parkinson’s

Moving with Parkinson’s is a dance therapy class made specifically for people with Parkinson’s Disease, geared towards mobility. GRBS is proud to continue to partner with the Parkinson’s Association of West Michigan to offer free weekly classes throughout the year for adults in the West Michigan community with Parkinson’s Disease. We offer classes at our Grand Rapids facilities as well as satellite classes in Holland. Moving with Parkinson’s dancers enjoy spending time in a supportive community, focusing on holistic and restorative movement.

Dress Code
Comfortable, loose clothing

Cost
Grand Rapids Ballet is proud to offer this class free of charge. 

SCHEDULE

DAYTIMELOCATIONDATE
Monday12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Mary Free Bed YMCA, Grand Rapids
Holland Home, Grand Rapids
(Starts September 11)
Tuesday11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Grand Rapids Ballet School (Virtual Option Available)

Join virtually via Zoom-
Meeting ID: 815 3441 2609
Passcode: GRBS

(Starts August 29)
Wednesday12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.Evergreen Commons, Holland (Starts September 6)
Friday9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.

12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Snap Fitness Allendale

Evergreen Commons, Holland

(Starts September 8)

GRBS offers classes in-person at Grand Rapids Ballet and multiple satellite locations around Grand Rapids. Please contact the School Office with any questions.

Evergreen Commons
480 State St, Holland, MI 49423

Grand Rapids Ballet School
341 Ellsworth Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Holland Home
2100 Raybrook St SE 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Snap Fitness Allendale
6101 Lake Michigan Drive, Allendale Charter Twp, MI 49401

Moving with Parkinson’s is sponsored by:

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