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Kids Dance Outreach

Just dance. That’s the message at Kids Dance Outreach and their newest program, that allows kids with Down Syndrome to dance for free. Program director Michael J. Johnson says the classes expose children to movement and dance, increasing their social, emotional and physical skills in a fun and safe environment, enabling them to build on this success in the future.

Michael says the goal is to inspire students, teach them to be confident and acquire skills that will help them later in life. Amber sat down for a quick chat with Michael, 8-year-old Zoe and her mom Amy to learn about the benefits and how Zoe is already thriving.

Here are a few facts about Kids Dance Outreach and how it came about:

– FREE dance classes for children with Down syndrome ages 9-12 / In partnership with Peyton Manning’s Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent

– The program has been developed in Indianapolis with the council of Dr. Fernando Escobar, MD, MS (Director of the Medical Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Center at Peyton Manning’s Children’s Hospital St. Vincent), Dr. Kerstin M. Sobus, MD (Riley Children’s Hospital Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) and the on-site expertise of Whitney Harrison PT, DPT (Pediatric Physical Therapist at Riley).

About Kids Dance Outreach Founded by Michael J. Johnson in 2012, Kids Dance Outreach (KDO) is an inclusive non-profit organization that strives to provide quality opportunities for students and their families across Indianapolis. Through community partnerships around Indiana, KDO shares its high-level dance programs with thousands each year. The mission is to make a positive change in the lives of young people through the discipline of dance. Through KDO’s programs, children are inspired by the joy of dance and music, as they’re given something positive to focus on, specific goals to attain, a sense of meaningful accomplishment and an appreciation of the Arts. The goal is to help kids discover “they can” and empower them for a lifetime.

For more information, call 317-662-4555 or visit www.kidsdanceoutreach.org.