OUR MISSION
Down to Dance is a student- run organization dedicated to providing free, accessible dance workshops for individuals with Down syndrome.
Down to Dance is a national organization that combines dance and Down syndrome in a fun way to help improve the health of individuals who have Down syndrome. Our vision is a world where dance is an integral part of healthy Down syndrome communities. Peer Reviewed research published by accredited medical journals (such as the BMJ and the American Journal of Medicine) have shown that constant physical and creative movement can increase motor functioning, cognitive abilities, and social inclusivity in individuals with Down Syndrome.
OUR GOALS
COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING
Through the use of consistent dance tactics, we hope to increase the participant’s ability to remember the dance steps and hence their long term memory retention. Our organization uses the Cognitive scale for Down syndrome in order to gauge the cognitive progress of our dancers.
MOTOR SKILLS
Our hope is that children in our organization improve in their finite and gross motor skills. Through the use of specific choreography inspired by research in Dance in Medicine, we are able to incorporate an assortment of practices that allow our members to increase their locomotion control.
SOCIAL INCLUSIVITY
Social inclusivity includes the interactions that the members have with each other and with the volunteers. We hope that our program helps the dancers connect with each other and the volunteers. Our “circle time” tactics help give each dancer a spotlight on the dance floor and gives our dancers a chance to support and cheer each other on.