““We took our child to a gymnastics class. He couldn’t sit still and the instructor recommended that the class was not for us. We are so glad we found MAGIC””
Children are encouraged to participate as much as possible, but staff members are patient with individual student needs. In many educational settings, students are expected to sit still and remain quiet. Watch the video below or click to learn more. We believe in learning through multiple modalities!
NOT ONLY DOES MAGIC ACCEPT MOVEMENT… WE ENCOURAGE IT!
Vision
MAGIC’s (Music, Art, & Gross-motor Integration for Children) vision is a neurodiverse community where all individuals have the opportunity to practice creative expression.
MAGIC Dance Arts Inc. is a non profit organization founded by Executive Director, Chelsea Laxa, in an attempt to provide creative outlets for young children in the South San Francisco Bay Area.
Our classes are far from your typical dance class. We promote an inclusive environment where the classes will always cater to the individual needs of the students. Not only do we promote inclusivity, we also strive to improve overall child development through the use of a variety of lessons learned through movement and dance. To promote social engagement, we encourage turn taking and the use of varying forms of communication to greet peers. We work to enhance fine motor and gross motor skills through a variety of dance moves and the use of our sensory-friendly items. In order to accommodate a sensory-friendly environment, lights may be dimmed, music may be lowered, and a variety of visuals and props will be used. It is a dance class like no other.
The curriculum was strategically designed by Chelsea Laxa, a special needs expert who has been in the field for over fifteen years. Many techniques and principles have been gathered collectively from Applied Behavior Analysis, Early Childhood Special Education, and Autism Movement Therapy, thus creating a one of a kind curriculum. Each class will be taught by a lead instructor and at least one assistant. Children are encouraged to participate as much as possible, but staff members and instructors are patient with individual student needs. Children are encouraged to participate on their own (if able), but parent participation is welcome, especially during the first few classes while the child learns the routine. While we can tell you every little bit about MAGIC, there is nothing like experiencing the class first hand. The best part is that all trial classes are free!
MAGIC Dance Arts Inc. strives to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for students of any and all abilities.
People Who Make Magic Happen
chelsea sioxson laxa
EXECUTIVE Director & founder
Chelsea has been dancing since the age of four and grew up in the South Bay Area. She is trained in ballet, pointe, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, modern, jazz, and tap. Chelsea has been instructing children’s dance classes for almost 20 years. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, has a Masters degree in Early Childhood Special Education, a Bachelors degree in Psychology, and a minor in Dance Studies. She is also certified in Autism Movement Therapy.
Chelsea has experience working with neurodiverse individuals as a respite caregiver, a developmental interventionist, a special education teacher and a behavior consultant. As a professional in both the educational and performing arts fields, Chelsea is dedicated to uniting people of all abilities through creative outlets and artistic expression.
INCLUSIVE MOVEMENT EDUCATORS
Priya Manhas
Priya was born and raised in the heat of sunny Arizona but moved to the Bay Area for school. She graduated U.C. Berkeley with a Bachelors in molecular and cell biology with an emphasis in immunology and infectious diseases and a minor in French. Since she loved the Bay so much, she decided to stay after graduation and completed a post baccalaureate. She is currently doing research for the USDA in Albany. However, she hopes to attend medical school and apply what she has learned at MAGIC Dance Arts to pursue pediatrics. In her free time, she loves to play soccer and spend time with her kittens. When she is not studying, Priya has always loved working with children. She appreciates that MAGIC Dance Arts provides a safe space for kids to express themselves and enjoy being kids. She is very excited to be a part of a community that combines her passions for dancing, helping people, and working with fun-loving students!