Ballet for Autism Spectrum Disorder

(ADAPT Trial)

Overseen By Noy Alon

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 12 weeks

32 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether ballet classes can help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve motor skills, well-being, and social participation. The study involves children participating in a recreational dance program called Ballet for all Kids, with sessions held in either the fall or spring. Children aged 6-12 with an ASD diagnosis who are not currently enrolled in ballet classes and can understand English or Spanish may be eligible to join. Parents or guardians will complete surveys to help researchers assess the program's impact. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for children to enhance their skills and well-being in a creative and supportive environment.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications, so it's best to ask the trial organizers for clarification.

What prior data suggests that this ballet class is safe for children with autism spectrum disorder?

Research shows that dance activities, such as ballet, can be safe and beneficial for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies have found that dance and movement therapy can enhance behavior and social skills in these children. Parents have reported positive outcomes from dance programs, noting improvements in their children's motor skills, social interactions, and communication abilities.

Importantly, these studies have not reported major negative effects from dance therapies. The therapy is generally well-received, indicating it does not cause harm or discomfort for participants. Overall, while more research is needed, dance programs like ballet appear to be a promising and safe option for children with ASD. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using ballet classes for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) because it offers a unique, non-traditional approach to therapy. Unlike standard treatments, which often focus on behavioral therapies and medications, ballet provides a physical and artistic outlet that can enhance social skills, coordination, and emotional expression in a supportive environment. This method encourages participants to engage in group activities that build confidence and communication skills, potentially leading to improvements in their daily interactions and quality of life. By integrating the arts into therapy, this approach may offer a refreshing and holistic alternative to existing ASD treatments.

What evidence suggests that ballet classes might be an effective treatment for autism spectrum disorder?

Research shows that dance therapy can help people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Studies have found that dance movement therapy reduces repetitive behaviors and improves social skills in children with autism. Another study suggested that dance eases negative symptoms and social challenges linked to ASD. Dance also boosts social and emotional well-being. Although little research exists specifically on ballet for children with ASD, this trial will explore its potential benefits. Participants will either begin ballet classes in the fall or wait until the spring, allowing researchers to assess ballet's impact on motor skills and social participation. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Michelle J Adler, BSc

Principal Investigator

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who may benefit from participating in a ballet class designed to improve motor skills, psychological well-being, cognition, and social interaction.

Inclusion Criteria

Understand English or Spanish

Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis

Not currently taking ballet class

Exclusion Criteria

N/A

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 12-week recreational ballet program to improve motor function, behavior, and mood

12 weeks

12 visits (in-person, once a week)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in motor function and behavior after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ballet Class

Trial Overview The study investigates the effects of a recreational ballet program on children with ASD. It aims to determine if benefits seen in neurotypical dancers regarding motor skills and social participation also apply to those with ASD.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cohort 2 - Classes in spring Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This cohort is a waitlist control. Parents/guardians will complete all surveys during the fall while their children do not receive the intervention. They will then receive the intervention in the spring and surveys will be completed again.

Group II: Cohort 1 - Classes in fall Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomly assigned to cohort 1 will begin classes in fall 2025. Parents/guardians will complete surveys just one time over the 12 week intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Lead Sponsor

Trials

933

Recruited

579,000+

Ballet Academy East

Collaborator

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35259569/

Dance intervention for negative symptoms in individuals ... Conclusions: Dance probably alleviate the negative symptoms and social deficits of individuals with ASD. However, little difference is found in empathy. Further ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019745562500053X

A study on dance/movement therapy to improve core ... Dance movement therapy has a positive effect on reducing restricted repetitive behaviors and enhancing social skills in children with autism.

3. soar.usa.edu soar.usa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=sjot

A Review of Dance and Exergaming Interventions Both dance and exergaming may be cost-effective and feasible in school settings. Future studies should include larger and more diverse samples with rigorous ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.588418/full

A Dance Movement Psychotherapy Intervention for the ... Conclusion: The pilot DMP intervention has shown promising results on the social and emotional wellbeing of children with ASD irrespective of ...

5. buildingblockstherapy.org buildingblockstherapy.org/blog/benefits-of-dance-therapy-for-autism

Benefits of Dance Therapy for Autism Research supports the effectiveness of dance therapy for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by showing improvements in social ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10148030/

Parents' long-term experiences in a recreational dance ... Dance interventions are known to have diverse benefits, but research is lacking in how dance can benefit those with ASD. Ballet for all Kids is a novel program ...

7. digitalcommons.lesley.edu digitalcommons.lesley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1087&context=expressive_therapies_theses

Multimodal Dance/Movement Therapy for Children with Autism Social outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: A review of music therapy outcomes. Patient Related Outcome Measures, 8, 23-32.

8. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1465677/full

A study of the effects of dance/movement therapy on ... This study examined the effectiveness of dance/movement therapy (DMT) in reducing parenting stress in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder