Twenty-seven years ago, when my child was 22 months old, a psychologist diagnosed him with ASD. She said there was nothing she or her colleagues could do for a child so young. She suggested I take him back to the clinic when he was thirty months old when they would reassess. To me, that advice was ludicrous. I knew the infant and preschool years were vital in terms of social, emotional and motor development, so I determined to work with my boy myself. To a large extent, times have changed for the better. Parents can now set NDIS goals and access a great deal more professional help at an earlier age.
In the last two decades, I’ve witnessed the emergence of many and various schools catering to children with disabilities. Parents of differently abled kids don’t have to exhaust themselves by finding ways of instructing the basics, like
- recognising facial expressions
- and teaching spatial awareness, (which is helping children to be aware of their surroundings and their relationship to them).
We are fortunate to have the NDIS, which may fund the therapies or activities parents seek to assist their children with their goals.
Your child’s NDIS goals around
- recognising where he or she is in relation to other people and objects, (spatial awareness),
- and proprioception, the sense of self movement and planning coordinated movements
can be worked on in classes such as the Rhythm Works Integrative Dance Class at Chrystal Lee School of Dance at Burpengary.
Chrystal Reid is accredited to teach this integrative dance class, which is specifically designed to help children with their physical movement while learning to dance Hip Hop.
There are special needs students in Chrystal’s mainstream classes, too. It isn’t always necessary for a differently abled student to join the Hip Hop programme. However, in the latter, teachers can focus on specific goals rather than on the group goals appropriate for classes of students who don’t experience movement, intellectual or cognitive challenges. Disabled students will benefit from attempting individual dance plans and incorporating dance steps into their daily NDIS goal planning.
Since movement and music are an integral part of any child’s development, Chrystal has a class to benefit babies too. What makes this so special? Well, there is no enrolment or term fee for the Baby Boppers class; just a pay as you go fee of $9.90 per class. It is an excellent way for babies to begin to develop motor skills and gain the confidence to express themselves to music.
Chrystal Lee School of Dance includes the following classes: -
- Special Needs Hip Hop Dance Program (Rhythm Works Integrative Dance)
- Baby Boppers Dance Group
- Jazz
- Acrobatic Dance
- Contemporary
- Tiny Tots Acro from 2.5 years
- Adult Jazz & Contemporary
- Classical Ballet
- Adult Ballet
- Tap
- Adult Beginner Tap
- Tiny Tots Tap & Song from 2.5 years
- Hip Hop
- Musical Theatre
- Tiny Tots from 18 months
- Tiny Tots from 2.5 years
- Tiny Tots from 3.5 years
There is a comprehensive timetable on the website.
The school provides dance birthday parties as well. That means you can leave all the organisation up to Chrystal and her staff. Yes, you read that right. No cleaning up for you!
If you are looking for a dance school for your child that embraces diversity and teaches:
- Gross and fine motor skills
- Coordination and balance
- Mindfulness
- Participation and sharing
- Responding to instructions
- Being creative and imaginative
- Receptive and expressive language
- Focus and memory skills
- Zero tolerance to bullying
then, Chrystal Lee School of Dance may be the one for you. The skills girls and boys learn in these foundation classes will benefit them in life situations, such as in socialising, in school and future recreational pursuits.
Chrystal Reid has also created dance classes for older children and adults that
- Encourage confidence and creativity through movement
- Empower students to feel equal to their peers
- Provide a safe space for non-competitive dance
Not only does Chrystal Reid contribute to the community by providing a space for the very young to develop valuable life skills while safely learning correct dance techniques, she has also created a comprehensive programme borne of her fervent love of dance. She wants everyone who walks through her door to experience the joy that she derives from the pursuit.
It’s not just the art of dance that exemplifies growth in students, but the life skills dance brings are immeasurable. Chrystal notices the growth in her students in their technical ability in movement and in their behaviour and attitude as well. This teacher loves to watch her students return week after week for the structured and valuable fun she delivers.
The school provides opportunities to perform.
- There is a mid-year performance at a local venue
- An end-of-year performance at Mueller Performing Arts Centre in which Chrystal Lee School of Dance staff encourage all students to take part.
- Teachers are continually on the lookout for opportunities to perform in public, such as markets or Christmas events.
- Chrystal Lee School of Dance provides private lessons and the opportunity to participate in eisteddfods and formal examinations for those who wish to excel.
- There is also a Show Team which meets weekly for additional practice. These students perform at local events.
- As with many small businesses, Chrystal Lee School of Dance is NOT NDIS registered, HOWEVER, if you are Self-Managed or Plan-Managed, CLSOD can issue you with an invoice to submit to NDIS through your portal or plan manager. NOTE: this cannot be done if you are Agency managed.
- www.chrystalleedance.com.au
- Shop 10A Burpengary Plaza, Burpengary Qld 4505