Allegro Dance Project: Come FoUrth
Written by: Jeana Klevene, Allegro Dance Project
Allegro Dance Project specializes in Adaptive Dance classes and Inclusive Dance Outreach for children with Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and other specific needs throughout central Kentucky. Our organization raised over $8,000 from donors in 14 zip codes for their project, Come FoUrth through Fund for the Arts’ ArtsMatch.
Come FoUrth featured four brand new works to celebrate Allegro Dance Project’s 4th season! The show featured contemporary dance, live original music and a variety of aerial and circus arts.
The four works include:
- Another Level -utilizing platforms and ladders to physically explore new levels
- Not Me – in reaction to the #MeToo movement
- What We Leave Behind – a unique perspective on death
- Just for Fun – a much needed joyful fun piece to close the show
Come Fourth was performed as scheduled at the Lyric Theatre. Eighteen children with specific needs performed on stage with our company of seventeen dancers in the opening piece of this show!
Sharing the joy of performing with our Inclusive Dance Outreach participants is always a magical and rewarding experience, but for one young man it was truly life changing. We met this student last year during Inclusive Dance Outreach programming at his elementary school and were delighted when we received his performance participation form.
He was a bit shy to enter the studio on that first day of rehearsals but quickly overcame that fear when he realized the company dancer he had been paired with wears a hearing aid, just like him! They bonded instantly and to say he found his calling and passion would be an understatement! It brings happy tears to my eyes remembering him enthusiastically taking the stage and truly shining as he confidently performed his choreography alongside his many new friends.
Unsurprisingly, he has since enrolled in our weekly Adaptive Dance class and is very much looking forward to his next performance!
Applications for the next round of Artsmatch Open February 2019. Contact grants@fundforthearts.org with any questions.
The 2018 cycle of ArtsMatch was made possible thanks to LGE and KU, Jennifer Lawrence Foundation, Individual Sponsors.
