Ballet Theatre Company of West Hartford is placing the autism spectrum in the spotlight with new program.

Submitted by Ballet Theatre Company

Ballet Theatre Company has been running a program this fall along with Autism Families Connecticut. Submitted photo

Giving people the opportunity to dance and express themselves through movement is a fundamental part of the work of Ballet Theatre Company (BTC). This fall, BTC has teamed up with Autism Families Connecticut (AFC) to offer a new dance program to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their siblings, allowing these youth to pick up their dancing shoes and take center stage.

The BTC family believes that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the extraordinary thrill that dancing brings through movement, rhythm and song.

Ballet is a form of expression, an outlet for many who cannot always find the words to plainly voice their inner thoughts and feelings. BTC provides year-round classes in classical and contemporary ballet for dancers of all levels: pre-K creative movement through the pre-professional track. Their educators specially design classes following traditional ballet training techniques but also keep in mind the goals of each student as well as their emotional, physical, and financial needs. BTC’s new dance program in partnership with AFC is no exception.

Pre-professional BTC II company dancers Margot Paul (Berlin) and Lydia Henning (West Hartford) take the lead in getting this spirited bunch up and grooving to the beat.  Remarkable improvements are seen week after week in these children’s abilities to prance about in front of their peers with inner confidence and genuine delight.

“We know that freeze dance, stories and acting them out, ribbon dancing, taped floor patterns, and moving in a circle (skipping, running, marching, etc.) are all well liked and participated [in]” BTC instructor  Lauren Sembersky warmly explains.

The collaboration of these three distinguished dancers creates an uplifting, affectionate aura where all feel welcomed to relish in the exhilarating art of ballet.

BTC and AFC launched a 6-week Dance and Movement program this fall running Oct. 18 – Nov. 22 for the cost of $5 per child.

“Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder need more opportunities to participate in many of the extracurricular programs that typical children have available to them and we appreciate partners such as the Ballet Theatre Company with whom we can develop programs designed to address the specific needs of children on the spectrum,” stated Mary Helen Richer, Executive Director of Autism Families Connecticut.

BTC students will soon join the stage with professional dancers from New York City in the 13th annual presentation of The Nutcracker, and once again offer a performance free of charge on Wednesday to community organizations that serve children, families, and veterans, Dec. 17, 2014.  Many AFC family members will attend.

The performance will take place at Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities on the University of Saint Joseph campus, 1678 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut, 06117.  For information about BTC’s outreach performances contact Roman Baca, Artistic Director and General Manager of BTC.  ([email protected] or 860-570-0440).

To find out more about BTC, visit www.dancebtc.org, like BTC on Facebook and follow BTC on Pinterest, Tumbler and Twitter.