Toledo is filled with opportunities to participate in the arts, including for those with disabilities. There are outlets available for painting, dancing, singing and performing in public.
Unruly Arts, a nonprofit studio in the Artists’ Village at Toledo Botanical Garden for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities. “We’re kind of a family here,” said Lori Schoen, Unruly Arts art director. “It’s all about making art, having fun, getting people to express themselves, and to feel good about themselves.”
Schoen said the abilities of the artists – numbering about 24, assisted by a staff of two and about 15 volunteers – “range from just putting paint on paper to some of the most stunning artwork.” Some of the artists work in fused glass with the Village’s glassblower.
The result of those collaborations — the art produced by the men and women of Unruly Arts — is for sale at the Village’s gift shop. “This gives our [participants] visibility. People come in looking for a certain artist’s work. Our guys are excited to talk about their work and show what they’ve done.”
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Schoen added, “Some people might be uncomfortable talking to those with a speech impediment, for example,, but it breaks down barriers, and the shoppers see how capable our {participants} are, while our participants see their work is validated.”
Working with Toledo Ballet
In one instance, the work of Unruly Artists’ “guys” was validated in the Toledo Ballet’s production of The Lion King. Ann Heckler of the ballet had Schoen’s artists adorn some of the costumes worn by the dancers. “Lori made them and pulled her guys in to help. They were amazing costumes, very professionally made.”
Heckler has another connection to the community of those with disabilities. She’s also the Adaptive Dance director for the ballet, part of Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts. In that role, she provides those with disabilities with the opportunity to dance – one of her students progressed to the point where she became part of another ballet production, the Nutcracker.
Toledo Ballet Adaptive Dance offers differently abled individuals specialized adaptive dance instruction. Neurodivergent learning styles, such as Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, can experience the sheer joy of dance and music. Heckler offers two programs at the Toledo Ballet studios at 5327 Monroe St. One is adaptive dance choreography skills for teens and adults who have Down Syndrome or are on the autism spectrum. The other is inclusion dance for children ages 8 and up.
Hecker said she began the offerings to those with disabilities “because I thought it was the right thing to do. Why should dance be for typical-body-and-minded dancers? It should be for everybody. Everybody can have fun doing dance. I love working with these students.” Hecker said with emphasis, “Our motto is: Dance is for everyBODY.”
iDance Adaptive Performing Arts
Another organization offers other types of dance, along with singing and instrumental performance. “We’re a place of discovery,” said Karen Medina, director of iDance Adaptive Performing Arts Center. She said iDance helps adults with special needs “find their confidence through the discovery of their interest. We cater to all abilities.”
Medina explains that iDance offers voice classes, keyboard, percussion, hip-hop and fitness classes, among others. With pride, Medina said iDance recently added renowned Toledo jazz singer Ramona Collins as a vocal teacher.
Medina is excited about the move to iDance’s new offices and class space at 215 North Summit St. in downtown Toledo. “We were in our previous space for 10 years, but we wanted to be more visible,” she said. Now, iDance is on the ground floor “surrounded by glass, so people can see us. And right outside is a performance area.”
iDance has scholarship money available through the Greater Toledo Community Foundation for music classes called Adaptive Sounds. “We would love to have more people,” Medina said, “we have that scholarship money available.” And of the new space, she said, “let’s fill it with energy.”
Further details are available by visiting unrulyarts.org, artstoledo.com/adaptive-dance, and idanceapac.org
