Let’s Dance!: A Community Partnership Fostering Movement, Connections, and Inclusion

Author

Michelle J. Cook, Penn State Erie, The Behrend CollegeFollow
Michele Dunleavy, The Pennsylvania State UniversityFollow
Carrie A. Payne, Penn State Erie, The Behrend CollegeFollow
Sarah E. Whitney, Penn State Erie, The Behrend CollegeFollow
Matthew Levy, Penn State Erie, The Behrend CollegeFollow
Jack M. McBride, Penn State Erie, The Behrend CollegeFollow
Ella Garrity, Penn State Erie, The Behrend CollegeFollow

Abstract

Despite the many documented physical and social benefits, dance is frequently not accessible to individuals with and without disabilities. We share an inclusive dance community partnership called Let’s Dance! that was developed to foster movement, connections, and inclusion. To increase awareness and inclusive dance opportunities, this community partnership involved (a) a workshop on inclusive dance practices for preservice teachers and (b) a community-based inclusive Let’s Dance! dance event. Following a review of the literature outlining the benefits of dance and the barriers that need to be dismantled to make dance more inclusive for students of all abilities, we share inclusive dance practices from the research literature. Finally, we detail the inclusive dance workshop for preservice teachers and the inclusive dance event held on a college campus. Outcomes and stakeholder perspectives are provided.

DOI

10.5703/1288284318589

Keywords

Inclusive dance, dancers with disabilities, dancers without disabilities, preservice teachers, community partnership

Date of this Version

4-1-2026

Recommended Citation

Cook, Michelle J.; Dunleavy, Michele; Payne, Carrie A.; Whitney, Sarah E.; Levy, Matthew; McBride, Jack M.; and Garrity, Ella (2026) "Let’s Dance!: A Community Partnership Fostering Movement, Connections, and Inclusion," Journal of the Arts and Special Education: Vol. 6 : Iss. 1, Article 8.
DOI: 10.5703/1288284318589
Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/jase/vol6/iss1/8