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The
New Visions Dance Project (NVDP) is a dance and movement curriculum
developed by the world-famous Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe for
use with children who have physical, developmental and learning
disabilities. This year-long series of residencies, weekly
programs, and workshops (which will be offered at no cost
to the participants) enables these children to learn the history
and vocabulary of dance while at the same time allows them
to express themselves as dancers and choreographers. This
use of dance and movement, particularly in a setting that
includes more typically able-bodied children, helps to break
old stereotypes about children with disabilities and helps
to bring down barriers to full inclusion in their communities.
In the current
programming year, VSA Arts of Vermont has brought NVDP to
approximately 900 children at 23 separate public elementary
schools throughout the state. We work within Addison, Chittenden,
Caledonia, Essex, Rutland and Orange Counties.
Seven
of the participating schools are in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom
region. The Northeast Kingdom is of special concern to VSA
Arts of Vermont. Children with physical disabilities and their
families face substantial barriers to full participation in
Vermont's cultural and recreational life. Doctor, hospital
and therapeutic service visits leave little time for family
and social life. Despite Vermont's place at the vanguard of
the educational "mainstreaming", public school recreational
activities still contain an element of segregation:
"[The
arts] are not accessible or affordable to individuals with
disabilities. The typical dance class is fast paced, not designed
for children who may have underlying motor planning problems
or limitations…children's theatre selects [those] who are
the quickest, cutest, and most confident…The [disabled] child
is screened out, not encouraged to continue or asked not to
re-enroll…The children with the most to gain from the arts
experience have no opportunity to be included."
Susan Bassett, Parent
New Visions Dance Project, Rutland
And in the Northeast Kingdom there are the added burdens of
poverty and rural isolation and lack of cultural activities:
"The
Glover Community School...has about 65% [of its students]
living near or at the poverty level. There are few opportunities
for students and community members to experience a wide variety
of cultural activities due to its rural nature."
Jeffrey Lindgren, Principal
Glover Community School
VSA Arts
of Vermont sees the following benefits for NVDP participants
as well as the long-term impact of the NVDP program:
- Introduces
low-income and rural children with disabilities (and their
families) movement, dance and music therein facilitating
development of a life-long leisure activity/creative outlet.
- Assists
students in areas that are associated with independent living
by involving participants in setting goals, and underscoring
the importance of diligence, practice and commitment to
achieve those goals.
- Increases
positive public visibility of children who have disabilities
and promotes the inclusion of these children in their schools
and communities. The NVDP trainings for educational, social
services and arts professionals who directly impact these
children's lives provide information in a specific way about
how children with disabilities can be more actively included.
- Directly
meets educational goals as listed in the Vermont Framework
of Standards and Learning Opportunities so educators
can carry on the use of dance and movement in their classrooms
throughout the school year."
VSA Arts
of Vermont's NVDP efforts are about to enter their 7th year,
continuing to focus on bringing dance to underserved children
with disabilities - especially those in low-income and rural
areas where the arts, and the opportunities to participate
in them, are limited.
Check
out WCAX Channel 3's story about VSAVT and New Visions Dance
Project
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