Bringing Adaptive Dance to our Community!
Starting an adaptive dance program for children with diverse needs has always been part of the larger plan at TDA & Little Beats. We believe that dance and movement have the power to heal, inspire and help every person grow! We wanted to be intentional and knew that we needed an experienced person with a particular set of skills to get this program going the "right" way. Last year the stars aligned and we found Holly! We are excited to announce that beginning Fall 2021, Holly will be starting a special new Adaptive Music and Dance program at Little Beats! This program is for children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, and sensory integration challenges. We hope to extend this program to older children over the course of the next year.
Hear from Holly about her background and why she is the perfect girl for this job.
Dear Little Beats community,
My name is Holly Olson. I started singing and dancing when I was a baby and never stopped! Music, movement, and art were always the creative outlets that I was thankful to have to be able to express myself. As I grew older, I realized that my passion for the arts were matched only by my passion for working with young kids, and children with special needs. After completing my undergraduate studies in psychology, music, and rehabilitation services, I went on to pursue my Master’s in Expressive Arts Therapy with the hope of sharing the therapeutic benefits of the arts to children and families.
During my Master’s program, I took a wonderful class on Dance/Movement Therapy with children, where I learned about Rainbowdance from the founder herself, Dicki Johnson Macy. I instantly fell in love with this program and became a certified instructor in both their toddler and preschool curriculums. During my first graduate internship at Eliot Early Intervention, I led their weekly Rainbowdance group and saw first-hand the amazing impact that providing a safe, caring, and non-judgmental environment can have.
We are so excited to kick off our adaptive dance program with Rainbowdance! Rainbowdance is a dance therapy program for young children with diverse needs. Through simple songs, movements, and rhythms, Rainbowdance encourages the development of:
Safety
Communication
Trust
Attachment
Peer relationship
This inclusive, sensory-friendly class helps children with special needs and behavioral challenges enhance self-regulation, self-esteem, and social empathy.
I can't wait to enrich the lives of even more children at Little Beats and I'm so proud to be at the forefront of this exciting new chapter.
With love,
Holly
Unsure if Rainbowdance is right for your child? Miss Holly would be more than happy to chat with you to learn more about your child’s goals, strengths, and challenges. Reach out to Holly directly at holly@siagel.com!