We teach many styles of dance including jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporary and Latin, across all age groups.

People with Down syndrome possess a set of health, physiological, cognitive and social attributes which places limitations on their physical fitness and physical activity capacities.

Down Syndrome is associated with muscle weakness, decreased dynamic balance and low cardiovascular fitness.

Muscle performance is typically decreased by up to 50 per cent in people with Down syndrome. This can reduce exercise capacity and impede participation in physical activity, putting children and young adults with Down syndrome at a greater risk of health problems such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

It is vital that people with Down syndrome participate in exercise to maintain their quality of life and capacity. The emotion21 dance and fitness program addresses this need.

emotion21 is a fully registered and accredited NDIS Disability Service Provider. At present, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) sets the price of supports for all registered disability service providers. These prices are subject to revision and change every financial year. emotion21 will upgrade its prices accordingly. Details of these prices can be found below as well as on the NDIS website. 

Weekday daytime classes – $22.52 per hour

Weekday evening classes (after 8pm) – $24.81 per hour

Saturday classes – $31.69 per hour

All fees are invoiced monthly. Prices valid as of 1 July 2024 and are subject to change.

Uniforms, costumes and administration fees are not covered by NDIS funding and must be paid for privately.

We run a professional dance program and expect all dancers to be appropriately groomed and attired for class each week. Not only is this comfortable for dancing but it also reinforces teamwork and the emotion21 expectations of participants in the program.

Various t-shirt sizes are available to emotion21 dancers, which can only be purchased via our online shop (measurements for each size are available, please measure a shirt at home that fits comfortably).

Our uniform includes:

• An emotion21 t-shirt
• Black leggings/stretch pants (100% black)
• Black modesty skirt (optional for girls)
• Black jazz shoes or dance sneakers (kinder bare feet)
• Black socks

emotion21 prides itself on harnessing the strengths and adapting to the needs of the individual with Down syndrome to enhance their dance ability and success.

• Our classes use visual cues for our dancers to achieve success.
• Our classes are structured and routine, and new concepts are introduced slowly and carefully to accommodate all our dancers.
• Our classes are planned and tested according to the ability of different age groups.
• Our teachers and volunteers understand the potential of our dancers and work together to achieve success.
• Our teachers and volunteers understand that ‘resistance to do’ is not stubbornness, it is usually a lack of trust with the situation or inability to fully understand what is required.
• Our teachers and volunteers utilise visual prompts and allow appropriate learning time.
• Our teachers and volunteers understand that hypotonia doesn’t equal muscle strength.

emotion21 has been contacted by people all around Australia who are asking when we can provide the specialised emotion21 program in their local community. We plan to strategically respond to these requests by replicating our program and offering new sites to high need areas throughout Victoria and nationally.

We are currently running an online “Virtual” class program that is open to all of Australia. Please see the Virtual class schedule on the  Find a Class page