Ballet for ASD 12 yr old

[Anonymous]

Looking for a ballet class (or private lessons) for my ASD 12 year old. She studies books on ballet but wants a “class.” Is anyone aware of a dance co that is asd friendly and offers beginner lessons at this age? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? Arlington and Springfield have a studio called Perfect Pointe that is good with ADHD and ASD kiddos.

[Anonymous]

You need a welcoming dance school, not a professional-oriented one. She will have to accept that she might be the only 12 year old in the beginner class - or, if she's very tall, perhaps get her into an adult beginner class? But those are harder to find. I've been looking for myself and couldn't find one.

My ADHD/ASD son started ballet at Maryland Youth Ballet at around 7 years old, because he couldn't understand team sports and needed core strengthening and stretching. While it lasted, it was wonderful! Then at about 12, his teacher informed me that due to his lack of coordination, he would have to repeat the class instead of moving up, and he told me he wanted to stop since he couldn't be with his friends anymore - also he had growing awareness that he might be bullied for doing ballet, as a boy (you won't have that issue).

So we stopped and he moved on to gymnastics, specifically tumbling and trampoline at Dynamite Gym, which he continued until high school. In high school we got him a small adult indoor trampoline which he used daily. Apparently ASD kids love trampoline because they use it for stimming. Now he's college and when he comes back, he gets his trampoline out. It's great exercise, so I'm happy.

I hope it works out for your child, OP. Pointe work is bad for feet, but the rest, done with care and if she doesn't force her stretches, will give her good posture support and core strength.

[Anonymous]

Maybe look at Local Motion in Alexandria. Or many of the traditional studios have teen classes, so 12 would actually be a good age to start. A teen class would have a lot of beginners and you could talk to the studio owner about the asd aspect. She'd get to do a recital and meet other late start dancers.
You won't have to worry about pointe. My DD has done ballet her whole life and still is not on pointe at 14.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have any information about specific classes, and while I do think ballet would be best learned with an actual teacher, in the meantime you might try some of the beginner ballet tutorials on Youtube. I think it would be more effective than books and she could practice some basics to get comfortable before she started
class. There are also clips from ballet classes that might give her a feeling for what a class might be like.

[Anonymous]

Citydance studio has beginner ballet to all ages, the instructors and good dancers, as well as kind and welcoming.

My older kids did hip hop and jazz at older ages there (having ever taken a dance class before) and had a really good experience. Both have ADHD and anxiety.

If you do citydance, I strongly encourage the spring recital( it’s optional), since the last two months of the classes are focused on preparing for the recital.