Leah Willis Dance Arts always strives for changing the lives of those we interact with for the better. As such, LWDA continues to impact the communities we serve, by utilizing our profession to heal others that may live with medical, developmental or neurological challenges. The Art Form of Dance is, in itself, a form of communication and delivers many building blocks to the synapses of the brain which promote healthy physical growth, linguistic learning, coping mechanisms, mathematical comprehension, emotional resiliency and more. Engaging in partnerships with organizations that satisfy the connection of helping to build and fortify Individuals with all possible skills, facets and aptitude for a life of success is paramount for LWDA. We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym seeks to inspire, encourage, teach and support children and families, with as many tools as possible, for the overall development and well-being of every child, whether living with an autism spectrum disorder, or not. Therefore, a partnership was established between LWDA and We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym in St. Ann, Missouri.

 

About We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym

We Rock The Spectrum has a long standing history of excellence in meeting the needs of children on the autism spectrum.“We Rock the Spectrum provides children with a fun and motivational environment to help them in the areas of strength, movement, sensory processing, communication, positive behavior modification, social interactions, and self-care skills.” (https://www.werockthespectrumstlouis.com/)

“Because the gym was founded as a place where all can play, but specifically to target the needs of children with autism, the equipment is designed to address the dynamic nervous system of children with autism and other special needs. Allowing children to play using the sensory based equipment encourages them to expand their mind and reach new heights of ability levels. This also gives the children a chance to use their imagination and become their favorite characters while experiencing the exhilaration of climbing, jumping, swinging, crashing, crawling, running or zipping on any one of the various pieces of awesome equipment found at We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym.

Our staff works tirelessly to provide an environment that is fun, safe, secure and educational for the children who frequent We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym. With the all-inclusive philosophy the staff shows kids how to interact properly together, show positive motivation, have a lot of fun, and just be kids while using the various equipment provided at our gym.

The staff also teaches a wide variety of classes, and holds many day camps throughout the year. This gives children the opportunity to expand their learning abilities and understanding beyond what playing on the awesome sensory-based equipment can do for them. Children can learn good eating habits, master skills, learn new skills, practice social settings and have a great time while attending the classes held by our dynamic, energetic and amazing staff and volunteers.” (https://www.werockthespectrumnorthcountystl.com/why-we-rock/)

Leah D. Willis, MBA, owner and founder of Leah Willis Dance Arts, together with Ms. Celeste Brown, owner of the We Rock The Spectrum North County Kids Gym, have created a new, innovative, revolutionary and excitingly comprehensive opportunity for the WRTS clients. This new program is aimed at the healthy neurological development, constructive emotional processing, social interaction enhancement and building of trust and internalization of instruction following; all in a fun, palatable and artistic delivery, not being done anywhere else.

 

Dance has been the primal form of communication, since the beginning of human interaction. All movement; i.e. Nonverbal cues, gestures, facial expressions, audible tapping on the body or on a surface, embraces, and the like, are all expressions of the Spirit within the body. These combine to form a Dance, that expresses what is going on in the lives and minds of the movers. We utilize these expressions and use them to the utmost advantage of healing, building trust, strengthening bonds, having fun, releasing harbored emotions, and constructing relationships between people.

 

 

LWDA Time To Fly!© is a new, interactive adventure that allows both participants who have an autism spectrum disorder, and those who do not, to gainfully express themselves, realize their worth and potential in the world, learn new skills, and learn contextual Dance History and Culture. Fun blends seamlessly with learning and expression so that, what results is life long excellence and the ability to adapt, grow and flourish through challenges and triumphs.

 

10513 St Charles Rock Rd.

St. Ann, MO 63074

The LWDA Time To Fly!© Program was extremely successful at its inception, and can be replicated and delivered to facilities that so desire such an experience for their students, patrons, families and clients. You can read the direct testimony from the owner of the facility above by clicking the link below. You will be taken to GreatNonprofits, which is a website that lists the most reputable Nonprofit Organizations according to real-time interaction and satisfaction with the community. LWDA has been a Top-Rated Nonprofit Organization since 2016.