School-age dancers with special needs can join the Perkins School of the Arts “Yes! You Can Dance” class, which focuses on creative movement, learning rhythm, and self expression. At the end of the season, dancers will also have the option to participate in the annual recital. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — Perkins School of the Arts, located at 38-40 Birdsall Street in Norwich, is offering a dance class for all school-age students with special needs called “Yes! You Can Dance.”

Although the school has offered this class for two years, Studio Director Mike Perkins said this year the Perkins staff are trying to develop the class into a full program.

“We really want to make this a big program for us. Really give back to the community and make it so inclusive that anybody can dance,” he said. “We had quite a few kids last year and this is the first year we’re actually focusing on making it a bigger program, because these kids should get the experience as well.”

Classes begin the week of September 11. To register, visit PerkinsDance.com/enrollment.

Instead of focusing on a specific style of dance, such as jazz or tap, Yes! You Can Dance will be a weekly class where students of all ages can learn how to express themselves through movement and engage their creativity.

“We’re structuring it as creative movement. A lot of it is learning rhythm and just moving to the music, and a lot of it is self expression for them and being able to run around and learn how to jump and leap,” Perkins explained. “A lot of it is giving them a creative outlet, something that might be different from their typical education that they would get in school.”

The class will include an instructor who is certified in special education, as well as Perkins School of the Arts dance instructors. Additionally, Perkins said students are welcome to bring respite workers with them to class.

Ultimately, Perkins hopes this will serve as an opportunity for dancers with special needs to participate in dance classes that accommodate their needs.

“We try to get it so that it’s as close to a one-on-one with the kids and with dancers and teachers and assistants,” said Perkins. “We kind of work with the parents and kind of what the kid wants, because some of them just like to be around other kids and just be a kid. And other students might have additional needs that they have, and we try to accommodate that on a student-by-student basis.”

Dancers will also have the option to participate in the annual recital at the end of the season.

“We’re giving the kids the option because I know sometimes some of these kids might have some social anxiety. But also some kids might want to,” said Perkins. “Last year we had a bunch perform on stage, and we had some that weren't comfortable so they didn’t. So we’re really trying to work with them, but if they wanted to, there is an option to perform.”

For more information on the Perkins School of the Arts, visit PerkinsDance.com or the Perkins School of the Arts Facebook page.