RADiate, the Royal Academy of Dance’s initiative which offers subsidised dance classes to children on the autism spectrum, and to those with learning difficulties – and those who are non verbal – is set to expand into more schools across South and South West London. Recent funding will mean the RAD can consolidate and expand this inclusive outreach project into more schools, and meet more students’ needs beyond the London boroughs of Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Southwark.
RADiate classes allow children to benefit creatively, educationally, physically and socially, since the specific nature of dance particularly suits their more visual, non-verbal learning style. RADiate currently provides weekly dance sessions in ten special needs primary schools and mainstream primary schools with Autism Spectrum Disorder bases, delivered by a small team of highly-experienced teachers on a weekly basis. Many of the RADiate children find it difficult to engage in group activities so tutors are experienced in using activities which will attract the children into the group, so that taking part becomes a fun experience.
The children additionally benefit from the opportunity to develop at their own pace, with the support of a teaching assistant in ongoing weekly classes. These particularly give children with severe and complex learning difficulties the opportunity to make gradual progress within the routine and structure of the class. The class repeats movements each week and develops them slowly, as appropriate for children with autism who find change difficult.
As a new addition to the RADiate work, Michael Nunn OBE, co-founder of BalletBoyz, will also take on the role of RADiate ambassador. Whilst there are no plans yet to expand the project further across the country, offering the opportunity of dance even to a small proportion of children goes some way in practising and championing inclusivity in dance.