As the Founder and CEO of Feel the Beat, I make time for this work because I believe movement, music, and community are human rights. At Feel the Beat, our mission is simple: ensure that all individuals, regardless of age, ability, or skill level, can experience the joy of music and dance.
My team and I contribute by expanding our programming and classes, developing an inclusive and adaptive curriculum that honors each student’s unique mode of communication, and creating accessible spaces where students feel seen, supported, and celebrated. The challenge we are addressing is bigger than dance. It is about building inclusive, accessible environments for individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and those with and without disabilities. Too many people are excluded from traditional arts experiences because these programs were not built with them in mind. We are changing that narrative.
One of the moments that solidified my purpose was watching a student feel music for the first time through our vibrotactile dance floor. Their faces lit up not just because someone "included" them, but because they finally had full access. That clarity, that everyone deserves to connect with rhythm, expression, and joy, fuels everything I do.
I am inspired daily by our students, families, and community partners who show what is possible when barriers disappear. Their resilience reminds me that inclusion and accessibility are not add-ons; they are the foundation.
This work has changed me. It has expanded my definition of community, deepened my empathy, and strengthened my belief that accessibility drives innovation.
My team and I contribute by expanding our programming and classes, developing an inclusive and adaptive curriculum that honors each student’s unique mode of communication, and creating accessible spaces where students feel seen, supported, and celebrated. The challenge we are addressing is bigger than dance. It is about building inclusive, accessible environments for individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and those with and without disabilities. Too many people are excluded from traditional arts experiences because these programs were not built with them in mind. We are changing that narrative.
One of the moments that solidified my purpose was watching a student feel music for the first time through our vibrotactile dance floor. Their faces lit up not just because someone "included" them, but because they finally had full access. That clarity, that everyone deserves to connect with rhythm, expression, and joy, fuels everything I do.
I am inspired daily by our students, families, and community partners who show what is possible when barriers disappear. Their resilience reminds me that inclusion and accessibility are not add-ons; they are the foundation.
This work has changed me. It has expanded my definition of community, deepened my empathy, and strengthened my belief that accessibility drives innovation.