Dance and Ability

Dance and Ability is a multidisciplinary program created by Professor Patrick Corbin at the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, with support from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Research demonstrates that dance stimulates the brain through a unique combination of motor and cognitive skills while engaging participants in critical thinking and communication and building self-esteem. In collaboration with local Los Angeles organizations, this program prepares USC students to lead specialized dance therapy and movement workshops for communities that are often underserved or stigmatized.

Under Professor Corbin’s leadership, the program has evolved through three distinct iterations, each expanding our understanding of dance as a therapeutic intervention:

First Iteration – Dancing with Parkinson’s: In collaboration with Lineage Performing Arts Center, USC students received specialized training to create and lead dance therapies and movement workshops for people living with Parkinson’s disease. The project included a guest speaker series examining current research in dance therapy and Parkinson’s disease.

Second Iteration – Dancing with Down Syndrome: Students learned to lead dance therapy and training exercises for people with Down Syndrome, bringing together USC students, staff, and faculty from both University Park Campus and Health Science Campus. The program culminated in a collaborative performance designed, choreographed, and performed by USC students and representatives from Free 2 Be Me Dance.

Third Iteration – Dance, Autism and Neurodiversity: Working in partnership with The Miracle Project, this iteration focused on dance therapy approaches for individuals on the autism spectrum and those with neurodiverse conditions, further expanding the program’s reach and therapeutic applications.

Through these three iterations, Professor Corbin has established Dance and Ability as a vital area of study at USC. The program has secured diverse funding sources, including a USC Interdisciplinary Teaching Grant for Dance and Parkinson’s and is currently in discussions with Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for future support. The development of DANC 140 Dance and Health: Dance and Ability represents Professor Corbin’s commitment to institutionalizing this innovative approach to dance education and community engagement, opening new opportunities for research, funding, and program expansion.