Lynne Bauer began thinking about the idea of DanceAbilities in 1994 while working as an adjunct faculty member in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Northern VA Community College in Annandale VA after receiving her licensure as a physical therapist assistant in 1992. She danced since she was 5 years old and wanted to find a way to combine her passion for dance and science.
As events unfolded Lynne happened to hear about a new course that adapted dance for children with special needs. Music, dance and adaptive equipment allowed children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities to do ballet, tap and even some tumbling. This was the answer to her dream and the journey to the formation of DanceAbilities!
Upon leaving the college position in 1995 she organized a dance program for a pediatric rehabilitation center and not only enjoyed working with the children, but also seeing the remarkable results with smiles of joy! From there she brought her work to the Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC and led group classes as well as individual bedside therapy using dance and music.
Interest was building from the community and Lynne held workshops for many different organizations such as PODS (Parents of Down Syndrome) as it was titled at that time. It was 1997 and time to start classes in VA. In February 1999 Lynne decided to incorporate her business as a 501 c 3 not for profit organization.
Lynne attended George Mason University and received her Bachelor of Individualized Studies in Dance Therapy. She completed an intensive 2 year post graduate program in Laban Movement Studies at the University of Maryland to become a Certified Movement Analyst in nonverbal analysis. Lynne also earned the title of Registered Somatic Movement Therapist ( ...learn more here) from the international Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA).
She completed her yoga certification in 2013 from the Sun & Moon Studio in Fairfax and continues to study and research somatic tools such as energy medicine for yoga that reveal the intelligence of the body to heal itself.