Today we’d like to introduce you to Chance 2 Dance,Inc. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Chance 2 Dance, Inc (C2D) is Central Florida’s only wholly inclusive and accommodating dance organization. C2D was founded in 2016 by Nicole Warren. Warren is a graduate of UCF and a best-selling children’s author with a passion for dance and aims to advocate the benefits dance promotes for the whole person. Nicole’s philanthropic endeavors and advocacy for the inclusion of those with special needs have led her to be recognized within the Orlando community with several notable and prestigious awards, including:
-2019 ‘Outstanding Diversity Hand’ by Orlando Business Journal.
-2020 ‘Orlando’s 40 under 40’ by Orlando Business Journal.
-2020 ‘Superwomen of the Year’ by Orlando Family Magazine.
-2021 ‘Inspirational Deeva’ winner from Orlando Women on the Rise.
C2D provides full programming, performance events, and genuine movement arts opportunities to children, youth, and adults with varying needs, disabilities, and other unique abilities. C2D works with individuals of all needs including but not limited to Autism Spectrum, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, those who are deaf, blind, non-verbal, and many other various exceptionalities. C2D staff is able to work with the participating dancers and meet them at their level; then aims to maximize their abilities and build up their skills in an intentionally designed programming and studio space with an atmosphere where dance participants can be 100 percent themself.
The Chance 2 Dance program offers those with exceptionalities the opportunity to express themselves through movement and performance, as it enriches the lives of those within the program. The Chance 2 Dance team is staffed with professional dance instructors with higher education degrees that are ‘Inclusion & Special Needs’ certified and CPR/AED certified to help appropriately accommodate dancers of all ages, levels, and abilities.
In April 2021, C2D hosted the Grand Opening of the state of Florida’s first sensory-friendly and inclusive dance studio in Maitland, FL. C2D serves over 500 individuals with special needs weekly across multiple community partner locations such as municipalities, private and charter schools, and vocational locations, providing inclusive arts outlets and opportunities that they otherwise may not receive due to their needs, personal/family health reasons, and economic status.
C2D has an award-winning performance team that parallels traditional competitive dance teams to provide equal arts opportunities beyond their studio technique group classes where team members experience professional guest artist classes, regional and national typical competitions, photoshoots, and much more. Dance is an extracurricular, social activity that positively benefits and enhances the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development of all individuals. Chance 2 Dance promotes acceptance, embrace and love for all.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a dance, special needs, and arts non-profit organization; C2D struggles with fundraising and community awareness as dance is often an undervalued art form that is often overlooked as a benefit to the community.
Being the community that C2D caters to is predominantly underserved/low income, it is a challenge to reach out to our active participants and families for support as they are the ones who need the support most. C2D experienced difficulty navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as community fundraising efforts and initiatives came to a halt. The majority of dance nonprofits across the country were forced to close their doors, but C2D continued to project its efforts regardless of the COVID struggles.
The pandemic put the organization back in their financial efforts and goals and slowed down the progress of raising awareness for equal arts opportunities. In order to continue to evolve and grow, community support is essential to continue to positively benefit the greater Orlando community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
C2D specializes in inclusive arts experiences where they aim to promote acceptance and diversity; the goal of C2D is for their dance participants to engage in meaningful artistic experiences where they can express themselves through an outlet that recognizes the beauty and special abilities of each of their participants. Dance is a ‘voice for the voiceless.’
Chance 2 Dance has an ambassador program that is an initiative to engage and partner with individuals of unique abilities and typical students for both social groups to learn from each other, embrace differences and learn how to appropriately and effectively interact with people who may look, act or seem ‘different.’ Both social groups benefit from this engagement and C2D aims help to build a community of future inclusive leaders.
Chance 2 Dance is most proud of its efforts and ability to continue to evolve and grow through various hurdles- they have been able to build a new studio through the pandemic and have had multiple dance students who have won individual and group awards on its behalf of C2D. Most recently, Chance 2 Dance’s own Caleb Emery won the state of Florida title of ‘Mr. Dance’ for the nationally recognized Dance Masters of America organization.
He is the first person with Autism to win this award and title and compete at a national level.
Pricing:
- Group Technique Classes: $50/ Month
- Performance Team: $105/ Month
- Community Partnerships available via contract
Contact Info:
- Email: support@chance2danceinc.org
- Website: www.chance2danceinc.org
- Instagram: @chance2danceinc
- Facebook: @chance2danceinc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUy5q0usubWEWO21X0_386Q
