RHYTHM WORKS INTEGRATIVE DANCE!
Rhythm Works is a ground breaking rhythm and dance program designed for those with individual learning differences and other special needs!
"Everyone Deserves the Chance to Dance!"
Embodying one of our core values of inclusion, Ohana is proud to be one of only TWO studios in Western MA to offer this incredible program!
RHYTHM WORKS Integrative Dance is a specialized, but inclusive, dance class for people with individual learning differences and other special needs developed by world-renowned choreographer and dance, Tricia Gomez. Based on the Hip Hop Made Easy Program, our RWID classes use rhythm and hip hop dance to assist in achieving goals across the 5 developmental domains.
What are the benefits of RWID for my child?
RWID has a wide array of benefits for students of all abilities!
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Gross motor skills
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Fine motor skills
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Body awareness
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Body control
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Social Skills
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Strength
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Flexibility
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Focus
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Imitation
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Ideation
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Motor Planning
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Memory & Recall
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Coordination
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Receptive Language
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Expressive Language
Rhythm Works Integrative Dance is designed to meet the individual learning differences and a wide variety of diagnoses. RWID is a specialized but inclusive class that focuses on skill development, self empowerment, and celebrating our differences.The program is specifically designed to use music, purposeful movement, and defined rhythm patterns to fully integrate body, mind and spirit.
Emerging research is proving what we knew all along… movement is not only good for our emotional, mental and physical health, it is also a key part in helping the brain function at it’s best! Rhythm Works Integrative Dance was created with this knowledge in mind!
Danielle Stelma, Instructor
Danielle started dancing at age 5 at Mary Ann Studio of Dance in Agawam where she danced for 13 years. Her dance career continued into college where she was on the dance team at Western New England University. It was in her junior year of college that she started playing around with choreography. She had a lost a friend that year and wanted to do something in her honor, so she choreographed a dance to “If I Die Young” that was performed at their end of year showcase. It was also in her junior year that she began volunteering with CHD Disability Resources Dance &
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Movement program (now known as WMass Dance & Movement). When she started out she thought she was going to be there for the year and that would be it. However, at the start of the following year she got a call asking her if she wanted to come back as the kids were asking where she was! She said yes, and to this day she still teaches the class on a volunteer basis. The class is her favorite part of every week and she is so excited to start working with other students in her new classes.
Outside of dance Danielle works full time as the Assistant Recreation Director for South Hadley. She also works part time as a Personal Care Assistant. She loves to run and is part of the IRun4 group (running for those who can’t, their siblings and veterans), where she runs for her buddy Hannah.