Merced County dance studio offers inclusive classes for neurodivergent kids
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- Steps Dance Studio in Atwater will hold a four-week Inclusive Movement series in July.
- Classes keep small sizes and multiple trained teachers to support each dancer’s pace.
- The series offers four one‑hour classes on July 8, 15, 22 and 29 for ages 4 through 18.
Natalie Lake grew up in the world of competitive dance, which she says is usually a strict program.
In middle and high school, Lake started working with neurodivergent children and simultaneously taking dance lessons with a teacher who encouraged Lake’s best friend — who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair — to join.
The experience taught Lake that dance classes can be adapted to be more inclusive. Now, as a teacher and co-director of the Starz dance team, Lake is on a mission to build an inclusive dance community in Merced County.
Steps Dance Studio in Atwater, where Lake teaches, is launching its first “Inclusive Movement Summer Series” in July, which is designed specifically for neurodivergent kids aged 4 through 18 years old.
The series consists of four classes which take place on July 8, 15, 22, and 29 at 6 p.m. Each class is an hour long, and the cost for all four sessions is $65. The studio encouraged families to get in touch if the cost is prohibitive, because “we’re a make-it-work kind of studio.”
The enrollment form is online at tinyurl.com/inclusivedancemerced. Classes will take place in the studio at 158 E Broadway Ave.
The program will focus on movement, creativity, connection, confidence, and expression in an environment where “every dancer is supported at their own pace.” In order to make the series welcoming, the studio keeps class sizes small and has multiple teachers per classroom so that “every dancer is supported at their own pace.”
“It’s a come as you are space,” said Lake.
“We really pride ourselves on having multiple teachers, trained teachers, and really creating a space where kids can do whatever they want,” said Lake. “(If) they want to sit in the corner and watch, they’re still learning … there’s no pressure to do anything here.”
There’s no pressure to participate in inclusive classes
The dance studio has two rooms: a larger studio space with an opening garage door for ventilation, and a smaller space with play equipment for younger children. Lake noted that she recently bought a new parachute that she is excited to share with students.
In the summer series, kids will be exposed to the basics of ballet and jazz dancing but without pressure to participate in any particular way. During classes, Lake said she sets up different stations for kids to interact with and lets them run free, which she calls “structured chaos.”
Even though students have the autonomy to decide how much they participate during dance class, Lake said she’s impressed by how much every kid in the program learns.
“We’re teaching life skills over here,” Lake laughed, when asked about what kids take away from the program. “We’re learning to pick up our toys, you know. We’re learning to take turns. We’re learning, you know, other people and their body language, and you know, keeping our hands to ourselves.”
Some of her favorite moments as a teacher, she shared, are when kids who struggle with traditional teaching methods have breakthroughs in her class.
She recounted her experience with a 4-year-old student who she sees for private dance lessons.
In her first lesson, Lake said, the girl refused to follow any dance steps. The next week, while she still didn’t dance, she ran around the dance studio and “we just kind of grew closer.” By Week 3, Lake said, the student began following her movements.
“Her mom even was like, I’ve never seen her do that before, I’ve never seen her follow directions like that. I’ve never seen her take an interest in following directions,’” said Lake, describing the breakthrough.
A resource for Merced County parents
All parents need community and respite, and for parents of neurodivergent kids it can be especially hard to find spaces where they can be sure their children will be supported and kept safe.
That’s why Lake emphasized that she wants families to know, “that’s our biggest thing, is like you’re safe with us.”
She said that, in addition to training for staff and a low teacher-to-student ratio, parents can rest assured knowing that all the doors in the studio lock and can be secured for kids who may present an elopement risk.
In addition to the summer series, Steps Dance Studio also offers recreational dance classes for all ages, adult fitness Zumba, and private dance lessons for all ages. It is also home to the Starz competitive dance team.
Across all of its programs, the studio prioritizes inclusivity and accessibility.
“I feel like we’re such an accepting studio that … anybody fits,” said Lake. “We can adapt no matter what, we can make you a costume, we will get you on stage no matter what.”
