Born Dancing, Inc., which provides high quality dance instruction for Students with Disabilities and other underserved communities, received a grant to help mount its next productions.   

Born Dancing produces original full-scale performances in which students with physical and intellectual disabilities appear with professional dancers, according to founder Melissa van Wijk. The group teaches classes that transition into its productions. Students with disabilities perform and work with professionals on every aspect of design and production of the shows. 

This summer’s performance works with a small group of more profoundly disabled children who use wheelchairs and a group of teenagers from the largest Special Education Public School in NYC.  

Born Dancing has been awarded four grants from Emily’s Fund, and we can easily imagine Emily working with Melissa.