A Better Life Through Belly Dance Training for Children with Autism

Autism is a serious neurological disorder that affects not only communication but also sensory pathways. In other words, it brings severe handicap to the human mind. As far as children with autism are concerned, they develop a different style of speaking and interaction as compared to their normal counterparts. These handicaps keep them isolated from the mainstream society. In course of time, they grow up either as lonely individuals or become thoroughly dependent upon caregivers.

According to an expert on Autism, based in London, these cases are going to multiply in the near future. Thus, there has to be an inclusive environment to accommodate these people into the manifolds of our society. One of the most effective ways to achieve that goal is enrolling them into belly dancing classes for beginners.

You need an inclusive dance instructor to include such children seamlessly into your class. In fact, if you know belly dance then you can be an inclusive dance teacher for autistic children. Being an instructor to children with special needs isn’t easy. Being an average individual with no knowledge on autism can be an issue as you won’t understand their medical condition fully. Try to avoid such thoughts because it will only take you away from achieving your goal.

Here are some tips that you’ll find helpful in guiding your students.

• Reduce light and sound as much as possible in your training sessions. Reducing things like clapping, flashing lights, bright lights and other elements are some of the micro changes that you can make which will make a huge difference.
• If your students are facing a mirror while learning, make sure you too face a mirror while teaching. This will help to make them understand where they should be looking.
• You can ask them to come to the class in basic black while you wear a contrasting colour. This helps to direct their attention toward you, the instructor.
• It’s better not to play any background music at the class. Rather, train them with real-time choreography. This will help those children to connect a particular movement to a particular sound.
• You can also reinforce a numeric pattern by counting from 1 to 8, 1 to 6 or whatever the beat may be. Tell the children to count silently by clicking their tongue instead of counting with their lips.

Learning belly dance is a craze in London. You can learn this oriental dance and stay fitter, healthier and more attractive. Apart from that, you can use your skills to help autistic children have a better life in future.