Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Faycosh.
Hi Emma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started with A Chance to Dance when I was 10 years old, volunteering as a buddy and being paired with a dancer to work with in dance class. When I was 18, I began teaching a class with the program, and gradually began taking on more roles until I reached the point where I am now- Artistic Director, running the program. 10 year old me never would have thought I’d be running A Chance to Dance 15 years later but it has been one of the best experiences of my life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It wasn’t always a smooth road. I had some big shoes to fill when I took this role on. The women who came before me cared greatly about the program, so coming in to a larger role was nerve-wracking but exciting. My number one goal was to make the program fun and inclusive for everyone while continuing to grow in the way that the program was intended.
One of our biggest struggles was during the 2020 season when the world shut down. When we finally got to dance together again in 2021, we had 9 dancers. I thought that was it- the program was done growing and would slowly start to drift apart. I started working, determined to get more dancers in the door, and 5 years later we currently have 35 dancers and we continue to grow every season.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about A Chance to Dance (ACTD)?
A Chance to Dance is a nonprofit organization in Lake Jackson, Texas. Our mission is to provide professional dance instruction which fosters creative expression and personal discipline in groups of persons with special needs at an affordable rate using a wide variety of approaches to accommodate for learning styles as well as levels of intelligence. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to dance.
A Chance to Dance specializes in dance classes for a wide range of disabilities. Our dancers may have one of many forms of Autism, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, and so much more. Dancers are able to start at the age of 3, and there is no age limit.
Dance plays a huge role in the lives of those with disabilities: it boosts confidence, fosters social skills, encourages self expression, improves physical fitness, and builds community. If you were to have a conversation with our dancers, they will tell you that they’ve never felt so confident, they love performing onstage, and A Chance to Dance makes them feel loved and seen.
A Chance to Dance is not your “average dance studio.” We serve the community with a purpose, and our program is made up solely of volunteers, from our directors, to our teachers, to our buddies, who work one-on-one with our dancers in class. We are able to make this dream a reality thanks to Barbie Rhodes Dance Studio, who graciously allows us to use their studio to hold classes on Friday evenings.
Our biggest event of the year is our annual summer recital, where dancers get to showcase what they’ve learned onstage for an audience. The recital is nothing short of amazing- complete with sparkly costumes, ballon arches, and spotlights. There’s always some happy tears, too. We always end the show with “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift. It’s our favorite dance, and our motto; even on the bad days, we shake it off and keep dancing, because we are strong, and we are A Chance to Dance.
The biggest takeaway I’ve gotten from A Chance to Dance is that my bad days are nothing compared to some of the days my dancers have dealt with. They are so resilient, and they have taught me so much about life.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For anyone interested in working with the special needs community- they will become your best friends (you might even take a few cruises or start going to church with them, just like I did). You will have the best time. You’re going to learn a lot about life and you will never see the world the same way again.
Treat them how you would want to be treated. They are human, and they want to be treated just like you and I do. The world often views individuals with disabilities as broken, or different. I want to change that perspective, and I hope that through A Chance to Dance, we are able to show a portion of the world what individuals with disabilities are capable of. I also hope to grow A Chance to Dance one day and be able to offer services in more than just Brazoria County. The world needs to see more positivity and A Chance to Dance is the perfect way to do so.
Pricing:
- 20.00 monthly tuition
- Everything else is 100% free for our dancers, recital fees total to around $8,000 each summer which is donated to us graciously by local businesses
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.achancetodance.net
- Instagram: achancetodance.tx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BFwFNoA43/?mibextid=wwXIfr
