Autistic Wings Dance Company

A nonprofit organization

$8,007 raised by 34 donors

Home of the Golden Chrysalises Youth Dance Company - the nation's only fully neurodivergent youth dance company!

Autistic Wings Dance Company is exploding, and we need the community's help! We have gone from a mere eight classes last December, to thirty classes this spring. In September, we expect to have over 60 classes on the schedule! (With slots for over 100 dancers!) Plus, our long anticipated pre-professional program has finally lifted off and started to soar. While these changes are amazing, they cost a bit of money, and that's where we need your help.

Our classes are autistic-informed and autistic-led. Autistic Wings is a little different than most dance studios. We combine the best therapeutic practices with the best dance instruction for a unique way of teaching dance. Class sizes range from 1-4 dancers per class, with each dancer receiving an IEP. It's not cheap, but we have found it is the best way for our dancers to learn the complex techniques involved in learning dance.

We aren't just teaching "movement" or "creative dance". Autistic Wings teaches real dance with real skill sets to our dancers. (Though we have fun creative movement classes, too.) From the first time a dancer slips on their ballet slippers to those on pointe shoes, our dancers are learning the same things their neurotypical counterparts are learning. Just in a class designed for our dancers. But these classes aren't cheap.

100% of our dancers are on some form of scholarship, thanks to donors like you! Even with the help of a ton of volunteers, Autistic Wings classes cost $171 an hour to provide. With just two dancers per class, our "Dance with a Friend" babies' classes tuition would be $342 a month without the support of donors like you. For our Pre-Company dancers who are at the studio over twenty hours a week, classes run roughly $3400 a month per dancer. Your gift helps us continue to provide partial and full scholarships to every single dancer at Autistic Wings.

$171 pays for an hour of classes.

$342 pays for a month of toddler dance classes.

$228 pays for a month of Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Musical Theatre and more for our Youth Dancers.

$648 pays for a month of Ballet classes for a ballerina.

$3400 pays for a month of Pre-Professional Classes for one of our Golden Chrysalises.

This April, "Adopt a Dancer" and help us continue to bring autistic-founded, autistic-informed, autistic-led dance classes to the Colorado Springs Community!

This April, your gift goes even further. Our 14 years old founder, Leta, is donating $10 for each new donation! That means a $5 donation becomes a $15 donation.

Giving Activity

Mission

Autistic Wings Dance Company's mission is to provide an empowering, safe space where autistic dancers can thrive. Rooted in the belief that the activity must adapt to the dancer—not the other way around—we offer specialized instruction, movement, and performance opportunities, ensuring every student can build confidence and pursue their path in the arts and beyond.

Background Statement

Autistic Wings is a rapidly growing organization led by autistic individuals. We invented the nation's first Dance Studio IEP and commit to an unparalleled standard of care: highly specialized classes with a high teacher-to-student ratio. All classes have 1-4 dancers, and at least 2 teachers per class.

This life-changing model has caused Autistic Wings to outgrow our single-room facility with crumbling walls. We must secure a new, larger studio to serve our waitlist and guarantee a safer environment.

Your support is critical. This Colorado Gives, we are seeking recurring monthly donations to secure our new home, instantly unlocking space for 72 new dancers and paving the way to serve over 200 students by next fall. We invite you to watch our video testimonials to see the incredible transformation your donation makes possible.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Autistic Wings Dance Company

Year Established

2024

Tax id (EIN)

99-1811640

Category

Youth Development, Arts, Culture & Humanities

Organization Size

Small Organization

Address

961 E Fillmore St
Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Service areas

Colorado Springs, CO, US

Phone

719-301-9614

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