Meet Jari Majewski and Julia Faliano of Feel the Beat in Northwest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jari Majewski and Julia Faliano.

Feel the Beat is an inclusive dance program and studio for those who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing and who have special needs. The organization is focused on building a community for these children where they can learn and experience the art of dance in their native language along with providing an opportunity to connect with their peers. Feel The Beat has a developed a curriculum that incorporates a combination of touch, musical vibrations, sign language, and specially constructed tools to aid in the experience of music and dance. The organization created a dance floor with innovative technology in order to bring dance and music to the deaf and individuals with different needs. The specialized flooring combines vibrations from transducers and pliable material that reverberates with the beat.

Feel The Beat was officially founded in June of 2016 and developed by the founders Jari Majewski and Julia Faliano. Jari and Julia share an intense passion for Deaf education and a love for their students. While working in a multiple needs classroom, trying to foster academic growth, together, they identified a need for dance and music education opportunities. As Deaf and special needs educators, Jari and Julia strongly recognized their classroom transform and liven up when music and dancing were incorporated into instruction. They infused ASL music videos, gymnastics movements while watching trapeze artists, dancing to pop songs, calming yoga positions, breathing exercises, and exploring musical instruments into their daily curriculum. It was during these times they began to see academic growth and noticed the students flourishing. They witnessed their students with multiple needs breaking through limitations and exceeding expectations.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Over the course of the past year and a half, Feel the Beat has grown from a seed idea to a fully functioning dance studio located in Wheat Ridge, CO with a one-of-a-kind revolutionary vibrating dance floor. In addition to operating as a studio, we have also obtained 501c3 status, held fundraising events, brought our program to four schools for the deaf in Colorado, and participated in numerous community outreach events. Our curriculum has evolved to include the following components: a warm-up sequence to get bodies ready to move, a body percussion section where student learn the fundamentals of music and rhythm using drumsticks, an across the floor series of leaps, jumps, and turns, dance choreography while counting and feeling the beats through the vibrating dance floor, and a cool down stretch and breathing sequence. We have served students with hearing loss, cerebral palsy, memory deficits, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language disorders, and several other motor and cognitive delays. All types of students have flourished and enjoyed our programming and several of them have made measurable growth over short periods of time that is noticed by parents, the staff at Feel the Beat, and educational staff that works with students in their schools.

Some of our challenges include:
– Designing one of a kind technology: Jari and Julia went through a thorough engineering design process in order to come up with a design for a completely integrative tactile music experience. They were very involved in this process including building prototypes out of our upturned sock drawers and ripping the carpet out of our studio in order to make room for our dance floor.
– Fundraising/spreading the word
-Being teachers in the nonprofit sector: Jari and Julia share a background in the field of education and have had a steep learning curve in owning a nonprofit. Since its fruition, the pair has taught themselves crucial skills such as graphic design, business management, marketing, finances, grant writing, etc. The list goes on and on! Jari and Julia believe that as teachers, they are life long learners, and have embraced their new knowledge and challenges as nonprofit owners.

Please tell us about Feel the Beat.
In just over one year, Feel the Beat has completed a variety of projects and programs across Colorado and has served more than 1,143 individuals. In October 2016, Feel the Beat launched their first dance workshop with 12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing students ages 5 -17, in Broomfield CO. Students worked on rhythm, coordination, balance, dance, and fundamentals of music. From February-May 2017, Feel the Beat focused on bringing their specialized program to inclusively, Hearing, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing students ages 5 -17, from Adams 12 schools in Broomfield. The organization also traveled to public schools locations and provided music and dance classes between 3:00 – 5:30 P.M. From May-August 2017 Feel the Beat participated in community festivals and events and held summer programming through Dance Is Love before starting construction on the floor. In August 2017 Feel the Beat began construction on their studio and finally opened their doors October 1st, 2017. Since this time we have offered a wide range of weekly classes and served deaf, hard of hearing, and clientele with special needs in the areas of Hip Hop, Jazz, Broadway Jazz, Lyrical, Fundamentals of Dance, Salsa style dance classes, as well as creative movement and yoga.

Feel The Beat’s program fulfills a need for improved access to creative arts education, particularly dance and music, amongst the deaf, hard of hearing, and those with special needs. The organization also strives to provide its services to the underprivileged demographic at little or no cost to the individual. A recent case study conducted by the Journal of Physical Education, shows there are many ways children benefit from dance and movement. When children are engaged in dance and movement, they experience enhanced physical development, emotional maturity, cognitive development, self-confidence, and social awareness. Deaf and hard of hearing children who use sign language are already expressing their feelings and concerns through their body language. Dancing is a medium through which individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired can more openly express their thoughts and feelings, and enjoy this form of physical communication on a higher level.

Regular dance practice can increase a child’s flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina. The repetitive movements involved in dance can improve muscle tone, correct poor posture, increase balance and coordination and improve overall cardiovascular health. In addition to physical components, dance lessons can help children improve their social and communication skills, how to work as part of a team, develop a greater sense of trust and cooperation, and make new friends while encouraging them to foster a more positive attitude and explore their own self- expression. Dance promotes psychological health and maturity. Children enjoy the opportunity to express their emotions and become aware of themselves and others through creative movement. Children learn to communicate ideas to others through the real and immediate mode of body movement.

Feel the Beat provides a variety of dance programs, including Hip Hop, Jazz, Broadway Jazz, Lyrical, Fundamentals of Dance, Salsa style dance classes, as well as creative movement and yoga. These classes are offered between the hours of 4:00 pm to 8:00 P.M. Monday through Friday at Feel The Beat’s dance studio located at 5451 W 32nd Ave. Other activities include summer programs and programs on school holidays consisting of week-long themed dance and music classes, which take place between 9-11 A.M, Monday through Friday at Feel The Beat’s studio. The organization also travels to public schools locations and provides music and dance classes between 3:00 – 5:30 P.M.

Additionally, Feel the Beat has also partnered with Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind for an 8 week after school program Feel the Beat has also partnered with Rocky Mountain School for the Deaf’s High School after school program as well as created a movement education program with their infant toddler department.

Other programs include a monthly workshop with adults with special needs from Easter Seals and being a field trip destination for various school program. These creative dance programs include rhythm, beat, and percussion lessons, full body movement and awareness exercises, coordination and balance practices, memory all while being provided in a total communication environment, where instructors use both spoken and sign language. Creating an equally accessible environment for all participants. Equal access is further ensured by fully adaptable exercises and routines for all abilities and differences, physical or other.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Co-founder Julia’s favorite memory from childhood is when a speaker came into her elementary school classroom. The speaker presented on deaf culture and taught her class the sign language alphabet. This is Julia’s first memory of coming into contact with a language and culture that would later determine her career path to become a teacher of the deaf.

Pricing:

• First class free!
• Adult drop-in $15
• Month of classes $54

Contact Info:

• Address: 5451 W. 32nd Ave.
• Website: www.feelthebeat.dance
• Phone: 3038168683
• Email: info@feelthebeat.dance
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dancestudiofeelthebeat
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/feel-the-beat-wheat-ridge

Image Credit:
Amber Andrews Photography

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