A new dance program from Monash University is driving the development of inclusive dance programs and supporting the wellbeing of children in Australia and China living with disability.
The AllPlay partnership with the only professional dance institution in China, the Beijing Dance Academy, will, for the first time, give children with disabilities outside Australia access to the program.
The inclusive dance teaching model, which sits within the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University, supports children with disabilities and their families, coaches and teachers to engage in sport, education and dance, with more than 300,000 children already reached through the program.
AllPlay Dance was co-created by Professor Nicole Rinehart, clinical psychologist from the School of Psychological Sciences, and international leader in neurodevelopmental disorders, and Dr Olivia Millard, senior lecturer in Dance from the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University.
“AllPlay initially started off as a small idea to build an evidence-based inclusive toolkit for the Australian Football League (AFL), eventually becoming AllPlay Footy, AllPlay Dance, and AllPlay Learn. Having the opportunity to reach children throughout China, is remarkable,” Rinehart said.
Interventions for disability have traditionally been carried out in clinical settings by medical and allied health teams. Community-based interventions, like dance, are appealing to people with disabilities, their supporters, and to government and agencies such as the NDIS who support participants to live an ordinary life.
“Community dance has the opportunity to complement and offer an alternative to clinical interventions; it has physical, psychological and social benefits, but is not always accessible, as children with disability often face participation barriers,” she said.
Sharing a vision
Philanthropic partner and co-owner of Moose Toys, Manny Stul said: “As an innovative company that uses our business as a force for good through the Moose Happy Kids Foundation, partnering with organisations that share our vision to create a positive difference in the lives of children is hugely important to us,” he said.
Closer to home, Giant Steps, a specialist school in Melbourne that offers best practice in the education and support of children living with autism, will soon roll out the AllPlay Dance program.
Principal Davina Bate said partnering with Monash in AllPlay Dance will allow students with autism and complex needs to express themselves through creative dance. “It’s a beacon of joy, engagement and social connection for our students,” she said.
To learn more about this initiative, visit: www.monash.edu/allplaydance.