WALLINGFORD - Twelve young members of the New Haven Ballet Company came to town Sunday for a session that was much more laid back than regular rehearsals.

The dancers paired up with five children with disabilities at the Parks and Recreation Department's Fairfield Road facility for a free "shared ability" dance workshop.

Participants made hand and leg gestures, mimicked movements, formed circles, swirled and leaped over imaginary ropes to music ranging from the acoustic pop of Jason Mraz to African music from Rwanda.

"I'll get back to you with the translation of that," teased instructor Brad Roth of Milford as the Rwandan music played over the speakers.

The class broke into groups of three as each group choreographed a short routine and performed for the rest of the class, eliciting and applause from each other and surrounding family and friends.

"Our mission statement says to be accessible to everyone," said the company's director, Nobel Barker.

A $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven has allowed the ballet company to offer the workshops and fulfill its community outreach mission for the first time.

"It gives us a whole new perspective on what we do," Barker said.

Fifteen-year-old Emma Bishop, a dancer with the company, has volunteered with Parks and Rec in the past for adaptive exercise and ice skating programs. When the Sheehan High School sophomore heard about the grant, she suggested that the company come to her hometown. She worked with Kathy Radziunas, who heads the department's therapeutic and adaptive programs, to make the idea reality.

"It's actually really fun," said a smiling Bishop during a break.

While the department offers adaptive activities such as yoga, gymnastics and theater, this was its first ballet workshop.

"The thing that I love about it is that it's fully inclusive," Radziunas said. "Folks who need a little bit of help are right along with folks who don't."

Dori Hoyt of West Haven travels to Wallingford three times a week to bring her 13-year-old daughter, Danielle Holly, to programs such as adaptive yoga and mega-muscles.

"She loves them," Hoyt said.

Danielle couldn't get enough of the movements, practicing her form during down time. Before Sunday, she had only practiced ballet in her room at home, Hoyt said.

Roth has been leading the workshops around the state since 1990 and will be offering another session with Middletown's Green Street Arts Center Thursday at 4 p.m.

According to Roth, the goal of the class is twofold: social dance and choreography.

Participants have the option of continuing and performing in a collaborative production at New Haven's Shubert Theater on June 6.

"It's wonderful to see all the steps that come together," Roth said.

The second workshop will be held on April 4 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the New Haven Ballet Company, 70 Audubon St. in New Haven. To register, e-mail administrator@newhavenballet.org or call (203) 782-9038.

shernandez@record-journal.com

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