Partner dance should be easier to access for more people.
Finding Dance is collecting organizations, teaching resources, and practical guidance that can help dancers participate, help instructors adapt how they teach, and help organizers create more accessible events.
This resource is a work in progress and will continue to grow.
Accessibility needs vary from person to person. These resources are starting points, not universal solutions.
Blind & Visually Impaired Dancers
We Can Dance
We Can Dance develops and teaches accessible partner-dance methods for blind and visually impaired dancers. Its programs use tactile, auditory, verbal, and kinesthetic teaching approaches and bring sighted and visually impaired dancers together.
Blind & Low Vision
Partner Dance
Inclusive Teaching
Wheelchair & Mobility-Adaptive Dance
Dance Mobility
Dance Mobility provides wheelchair ballroom and partner-dance instruction, including styles such as Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha, Salsa, and other social dances.
Wheelchair Dance
Ballroom
Adaptive Partner Dance
American DanceWheels Foundation
American DanceWheels Foundation supports adaptive Ballroom and Latin partner dancing and has developed instructional systems, syllabi, and educator resources for wheelchair and standing dance partners.
Wheelchair Dance
Ballroom
Latin
Instructor Education
Adaptive Teaching
ADEPT — Adaptive Dance Education and Performance of Texas
ADEPT provides adaptive dance education for students with disabilities and works with studios and communities to create more inclusive dance opportunities.
Adaptive Teaching
Instructor Resources
Inclusive Dance
Jasmine’s Beat
Jasmine’s Beat provides adaptive dance programming, instructor workshops, virtual options, scholarships, and accessibility support including ASL-related resources.
Adaptive Dance
Instructor Education
ASL
Inclusive Teaching
Making Dance Events More Accessible
Accessibility is not only about how dance is taught. Event design matters too.
- Step-free or wheelchair-accessible entrances
- Accessible restrooms
- Accessible parking and routes
- Seating options
- Clear accessibility information before the event
- A named accessibility contact
- Microphones for announcements and classes
- Captioning or CART where appropriate
- ASL/interpreter access when possible
- Large-print or alternative-format materials
- Advance notice of flashing lights, loud sound, fog, or other sensory factors
- Space for mobility devices
- Clear accommodation-request instructions
Teaching More Accessibly
These ideas are practical teaching starting points. Finding Dance is not a medical or rehabilitation authority.
- Ask what teaching method works best for the student
- Use verbal description instead of relying only on visual demonstration
- Break movement into smaller components when useful
- Offer tactile guidance only with clear consent
- Allow extra time for orientation or setup
- Adapt hold, position, movement size, or floor travel when needed
- Avoid assuming what someone can or cannot do
- Make it easy for students to communicate accommodation needs privately
Accessibility in the Finding Dance Directory
Planned
As Finding Dance grows, we plan to make accessibility easier to discover directly in instructor and venue listings.
- Wheelchair-accessible location
- Experience teaching blind or low-vision dancers
- Adaptive instruction available
- ASL/interpreter friendly
- Sensory accommodations available
- Private accommodation requests welcome
Find an Instructor
Looking for someone who can work with your specific needs? Start with the Finding Dance instructor directory.
Know an Accessibility Resource We Should Include?
Finding Dance is building this resource with the dance community. If you know of an organization, teaching method, event guide, or accessibility program that belongs here, let us know.