Reconnecting with Dance at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School

Imagine being limited in mobility, and then imagine being able to express yourself through the art of dance! The RWB School conducts two creative programs that can enhance the quality of healthy living.

ExplorAbility for Adults is a unique dance class designed specifically for adults with cognitive and physical mobility challenges. And it is changing people's lives. Classes are focused on developing body awareness, self-expression, coordination, posture and alignment, all in a fun, creative and supportive environment.

Research has shown that dance and music boost psychological health and improve physical health including balance, agility and motor skills and feelings of social inclusion for persons who have physical and/or cognitive disability.

ExplorAbility for Adults | Photo by Heather Milne

Jacqui Ludwig, a leading light in the field of dance understanding and accessibility, who created and teaches the ExplorAbility program for the RWB School, uses rhythmic movement and music in her classes. "We do lots of upper-body work because for many people, stability tends to be an issue when you have a disability," she explained.  "I have folks in wheelchairs, so we do lots of upper-body things, which helps improve cardiovascular. We also do a lot of work with arms — reaching helps with flexibility in the upper body." Ludwig sees a big improvement in her students, especially in terms of confidence. "As we move through the program, I ask them to challenge themselves a bit more, to try something they haven't tried before, which can be scary," she said. "But it makes a huge difference in their level of confidence."

ExplorAbility for Parkinson’s   is a    dance  program  designed to make dance accessible for all ages and abilities; it is focused on developing rhythm, body awareness, coordination, posture, alignment, and self-expression, in a fun, creative and supportive setting. Current research has proven that dance encourages physical improvements in gait, posture, and balance along with social engagement and quality of life in people living with Parkinson’s disease.