A six-week Dance For All course will be offered for ages 5 and up on the following dates with a culminating performance at Festival of Lights in downtown Baton Rouge on December 1, 2023.
October 1, October 15, October 22, October 29
November 5, November 19
Dec 1
The class is divided into two sessions. 2PM-3PM for ages 5-11 and 3PM-4PM for ages 12+. The workshop is free.
Instructors Kaitlyn Odell and Bailey Floyd
Kaitlyn is from Gonzales, Louisiana, and graduated with honors from St. Amant High School in 2019. She studied and competed in all styles of dance at the elite level for 14 years, earning various Stand Out and high score awards at the regional and national level. She continues to dance and perform with the LSU Dance Ensemble and Dance Ambassadors. She has been teaching dancers of all ages, levels, and abilities for six years. Today, she finds herself teaching at studios in Gonzales and Mandeville, where she has had the opportunity to help organize and start adaptive dance classes with curricula designed to accommodate the unique needs of children facing physical, social, and cognitive challenges. She is currently a senior at LSU pursuing a dual major in Biological Engineering and Kinesiology – Human Movement and a minor in Dance. Kaitlyn’s goal is to achieve a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and, one day, use dance as a form of physical therapy in her own practice.
“Dance is so much more than just a ‘hobby.’ It is self-expression and self-exploration. Working with the Arts Council to bring dance to children of all abilities is an absolute blessing, and I can’t wait to start this fall! No matter the challenges they face, all children should have the opportunity to experience the freedom and escape of dance. Impossible is an Opinion!”
Bailey Floyd is a Memphis, TN native and has relocated to Baton Rouge, LA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Alabama after completing her studies in dance, psychology, and biology. During her time at UA, she participated in various dance performances in addition to volunteering with Dance Alabama! and assisting in an accessible dance program for adults with cerebral palsy. She also served as a peer mentor for the UA-ACTS program, aiding in the social and academic success of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders on campus. Bailey was also named Outstanding Sophomore of the College of Arts and Sciences and Outstanding Senior of the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Upon the completion of her undergraduate degrees, Bailey began pursuing a Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with anticipated graduation in May of 2024. Presently, Bailey serves as the president of her cohort in addition to the vice president of the College of Health Professions student government association. Bailey is a member of the TN Occupational Therapy Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, Pi Theta Epsilon, and Rachel Kay Stevens Therapy Center Board. She is in the midst of her fieldwork experience at The Emerge Center and plans to stay in Baton Rouge following graduation. Bailey saw the Dance For All Initiative as the perfect combination of her love for dance, science, and service while connecting with the local community. After teaching and choreographing for competitive dance studios for the past 10 years, Bailey is overjoyed to help bring accessible and inclusive dance classes to the Baton Rouge area."