NCT07216768

ADAPT: Approach to Dance for Autism

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

It is well documented that motor impairments are associated with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, appropriate therapies are scarce. Dance has been shown to not only promote fine and gross motor skills, but also psychological well-being, cognition, and social participation in neurotypical dancers. Little research has been conducted to gauge if these benefits translate to those with ASD. Ballet for all Kids (BFAK) is a recreational dance program that has been teaching ballet to children with ASD for over a decade, but has yet to be empirically studied. This study expands on the goals of former STUDY 24-00144, Approach to Dance for Autism (ADAPT), NCT06424366, to elucidate the impact of participation in a recreational dance program on children with ASD.

Detailed description

The researchers aim to expand upon the pilot randomized trial (STUDY-24-00144) using BFAK's curriculum and structure to elucidate the impact of a recreational ballet program on the motor function and psychological, social, and behavioral skills of children with ASD. For the primary objective, the researchers hypothesize that after 12 weeks of participation in BFAK, children with ASD will improve their motor function. For the secondary objectives, the researchers hypothesize that after 12 weeks of participation in BFAK, children with ASD will improve their behavior and mood. This is a single site, randomized trial with 32 individuals diagnosed with ASD. Participants will be placed in either Level 1 or Level 2 based on prior experience with BFAK. Participants returning from our pilot study will be placed into Level 2 at the discretion of the program coordinators, and all newly recruited participants will be placed in Level 1. BFAK ballet classes will begin in September and run for 45 minutes once a week for the intervention group. The waitlist control group will begin classes in January for 45 minutes once a week, ending in March 2026.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Ballet Class	Participants will attend weekly ballet classes following either Level 1 or Level 2 Ballet For All Kids (BFAK) curriculum.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-25
• Primary completion: 2026-05-03
• Completion: 2026-05-03
• First posted: 2025-10-15
• Last updated: 2025-10-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States