Anna Kennedy Online celebrates Autism Dance Day 2023
We cannot believe it has been twelve years that we have celebrated Autism Dance Day!!!
Benefits of dance and movement for autistic children and adults:
- Improved attention and concentration.
- It gives freedom to be expressive of their emotions, using movements.
- It helps enhance their social interactions and leads to the formation of relationships when placed in groups.
- A therapist can help people to develop vocabulary skills, using the imitation of the repetitive movements the person engages in.
- They learn different patterns of movements required for daily activities.
- Group sessions are best to develop communications and social skills.
- Choreographed sequences can help in enhancing one’s memory.
- Touch during therapy helps in reducing sensitivity to physical touch and helps build trust.
- Improved body image.
- It helps in developing body awareness and promotes general well-being.
- Different planes of motion during therapy helps to stimulate verbal communication skills.
- It also helps to strengthen fine motor skills.
- It provides a platform for autistic individuals to build upon their social skills, which helps them further to understand the emotions and feeling of other people.
- They learn to develop empathy.
- It helps them to learn adaptation to different situations.
So, get your dancing shoes on and strike a pose and have fun!!! #dancelikenooneiswatching
Autism dance day takes place Friday 28th April 2023
Please tag Anna and the charity on Friday #autismdanceday:
Twitter: @Annakennedy1
Instagram: @annakennedyobe
Facebook: AnnaKennedyonline
Please read below quotes below of how dance makes our supporters feel:
How dance makes me feel, it makes feel at ease, alive, and powerful.
It’s the same way when I make music, except I’m not writing words but instead moving to them and doing my own interpretation. Dance to me is basically just music but presenting and releasing my emotions in a non-lyrical form.
My thoughts become clear and calm, I feel free when I dance.
Here at Studio 4 we are an inclusive dance organisation that offer ALL young people and dancers an opportunity to express themselves. We celebrate that being different is COOL and encourage all those we work with to be kind and embrace who they are.
Working with young people with Autism has allowed our practice to evolve and be more inclusive. Teachers and dancers have learnt to be more patient, flexible and considerate of each other’s needs. We are proud to work with many young people with Autism and disabilities.
As an organisation we encourage ALL young people to achieve their absolute best.
T’mya loves to dance and says it makes her feel happy
Dancing helps me feel calm less stressed and gives me an energy boost I feel more confident now as I’m not the best dancer, but when I perform i feel it helps me send out positive vibes and it helps with my confidences and improves me emotionally, I feel happy and warm inside especially after a busy day at UNI.
When I’m dancing I feel like me and alive, it also helps keep me healthy as I have a chronic lung condition
Pineapple Performing Arts School have had the pleasure of working with many children teens and adults on the autism spectrum, we have experienced such amazing rewards on many levels from seeing the progress, enjoyment and confidence dance gives them.
Good luck to Anna and the team on Autism Dance Day and “Keep Dancing”!
Dance gives me more confidence, it helps me express myself when I don’t know how to, when I’m stressed it makes me feel happier and helps with all my energy. When I Dance, I feel like I can just be me!!
My passion of dance started from the age of 2 and since then it has given me the chance to express myself within performance as well as meeting fellow performers who’ve embraced dance as a passion or even a career.
Ever since I was a tiny girl, I’ve seen the world and people in colours. Yellow is the ultimate as for me it means total joy.
When I dance, I feel bright yellow, free and I’m just undiluted Giuliana
“when you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way” Wayne Dyer
#autismdanceday A little time to share as a couple … about us .. being us
