Tom Sprague with Franklin Rotary Club,
Kyra Noerr with Franklin College and Co-Director of Live Laugh Dance,
Rachel Swinford with IU Indianapolis & Co-Director of Live Laugh Dance,
Tim Thurston with Franklin Rotary Club.
Live Laugh Dance is a summer enrichment program for adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. Born out of Clinical Associate Professor of Kinesiology Rachel Swinford’s Ph.D. dissertation, the program combines adapted dance, creative movement, and meaningful connections to bolster participants’ self-confidence while providing opportunities for them to be physically active.
“This program began in 2011 with 20 dancers and a handful of volunteers,” said Swinford. “It has grown over the years to nearly 40 clients. It is such a joy to see the dancers and volunteers build relationships throughout the program, [and] my favorite day of each summer is the dance recital.”
Live Laugh Dance now operates as a collaborative partnership between the IU School of Health & Human Sciences, Franklin College Department of Kinesiology, and Down Syndrome Indiana.
Co-directed by Swinford and fellow kinesiology alums Kyra Noerr (B.S. Kinesiology 2010, M.S. Kinesiology 2012) and Lauren Ryan (B.S. Kinesiology 2018, M.S. Kinesiology 2020), the program relies on donations and grants for its success. Most recently, Swinford received funds from the IU Indianapolis Center for Service & Learning to hire student employees. These community engagement associates (CEAs) assist with daily operations.
Each June, you’ll find Swinford and her team working with clients on the Franklin College campus, where Noerr is an associate professor of exercise science. The CEAs are there with them, coaching participants through new dance steps and movements. Together, their work culminates in a much-anticipated recital, giving participants the chance to demonstrate their moves to friends, family, and supporters.
“Live Laugh Dance is one of the best programs we are involved in,” shared participant parent Roberta Hatchett. “I think us [sic] parents enjoy it as much, if not more than, some of our dancers. It is an inclusive activity, no judgement, [and] builds socialization skills, all while having fun and moving. The volunteers are also incredible. Love this program, always have.”
Program benefits are not limited to the clients. CEAs find it personally rewarding, as it provides them with opportunities to grow their skills working directly with clients in a safe, supervised setting.
“I really love using dance to help people find a passion for fitness or just get moving,” said Lauryn Rochelle, a current kinesiology graduate student and this summer’s lead dance instructor. “It’s very fulfilling to apply the group exercise teaching skills I learned in the kinesiology program to this real-world experience.”
“Teaching at LLD was an experience I will never forget,” noted Kendall Holton, an exercise science student and summer CEA. “It was truly special to watch everyone have fun dancing and not let our differences stop us!”
First-year physical therapy student Carolyn Boone agreed. “This past summer, I looked forward to LLD every week,” Boone said, “and I could not wait to go see friends, have fun, and most importantly, be active.”
Last week, Live Laugh Dance and Down Syndrome Indiana received a grant from the Franklin Rotary Club Foundation. Swinford hopes this grant will help support the program in various ways, including funding a new sound system, portable storage, t-shirts, and weekly supplies.
To participate as a client or volunteer with the program, email lldance@iu.edu. To support the program through a gift or grant, contact Adam Van Zee.