Jennifer Bull and Ellen Harrison are launching a one of a kind dance class for children with special needs. The class is called MOVES: Movement Opportunities for Very Exceptional Students. Jennifer and Ellen teach dance at Ridge View High School in Richland School District Two. The idea for this class emerged from a graduate dance education class they took last year at Columbia College.

MOVES is designed to offer creative movement to students, aged 4- 16 regardless of ability level. Classes will be facilitated by Teaching Artists, and students will be paired with a typical Emerging Teaching Artist (ETA) who will serve as mentors to facilitate activities. This will allow for full participation in a range of activities, including movement, exploration, choreography, arts infusion and an informal final performance.

Teaching Artists and ETAs will receive training in a variety of areas focused on special needs in order to understand how to treat students with dignity and foster their independence. Mentors will be drawn primarily from Ridge View High School's National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) and Columbia College's Dance Education program, with students accepted from other areas in the College or other universities as needed. High School students will be interviewed as part of the application for the ETA program.

Space is limited. For more information or to register please contact MOVES at 803-309-7208.

MOVES receives funding through the SC Arts Commission and VSArts.