History & Creation of Chance 2 Dance

The idea of Chance 2 Dance came to Nicole while she was a personal care assistant for 19-year-old Kirk R. in 2012. Nicole had just graduated from U.C.F. and still wanted to dance, but she also wanted to utilize her university education degree. So, she tried to do both. In the interim period, she met the person who would become the muse of C2D. Nicole cared for Kirk by feeding him, going to his extracurricular activities, and helping in his daily routines, etc. One day, near the end of the spring college semester, Nicole invited Kirk and his mother to watch her perform. After the performance, Cindy (Kirk’s Mother) shared, “When you (Nicole) were not dancing he sat silently, BUT when he saw you in the wings and came onstage he was making verbal noises and cheering for you.” This moment planted the seed and 4 years later, C2D was a reality.

Chance 2 Dance programming began in the greater Central FL community in 2016 at local charter schools, vocational locations, churches, and other disability-focused organizations to initiate this adaptive/inclusive dance concept. The idea grew very quickly from the first month of services, (Nicole teaching her first accommodative dance class, ever.) 8 students at Princeton House Charter School. 6 months later, C2D gained multiple community partnerships and inclusive dance instruction was being provided to over 400 dancers on a weekly basis. Soon, parents and caretakers were calling to ask how they would be able to receive C2D classes if they didn’t attend one of the partner locations. In response, C2D began partnering with local organizations and dance studios to share their space to provide new programming ‘studio classes’ to the general community. By the Fall of 2018, Nicole was able to raise enough funds to design and build out the state of Florida’s first sensory-friendly dance studio in Casselberry, FL. Mindfully choosing wall colors based on color theory, installing safety mirrors, doors, and other features that would create a safe space that was considerate of the dancers’ sensory sensitivities. Having their own space allowed for the organization to implement new programs: studio group classes, private lessons, and the adored, award-winning C2D Performance Team. The studio programs officially became large focuses of the organization’s operations.

During COVID-19, Nicole capitalized on real estate opportunities. While other businesses were closing, C2D was growing. With the help of the C2D board of directors, they fundraised enough to move C2D’s studio to a standalone building, now located in the beautiful Maitland, FL. It was slow starting back up after the pandemic, but during the ‘downtime,’ Nicole had a new idea, one that would make Chance 2 Dance a scalable and replicable business model. She created the innovative MoveZ® program with the help of her creative team to develop an intentional curriculum for the special needs community to find success in their dance goals. The C2D MoveZ® program is intended to be a long-term, scalable curriculum, and rewards incentivized to promote the dancers’ cognitive and physical mastery in their technical dance training journeys. The C2D team hopes for this program to become a universally accessible resource for other dance professionals or arts organizations to utilize in their respective initiatives to have quality, inclusive dance classes.

In January 2023, Jackie Castore (C2D programs director) approached Nicole with a request, “I’d like to move home, back to New York to be with my family. But, I love this job and Chance 2 Dance. Can I take C2D home with me?” Little did Jackie know, THIS was Nicole’s dream too! To expand Chance 2 Dance beyond Florida borders and what are the chances* that NYC was Nicole’s first hopeful destination. Together Jackie and Nicole worked on a pitch to propose to the board and of course, they approved! Chance 2 Dance began community programming in Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Manhattan in September 2023 with 8 partnerships, 11 locations, and over 400 dancers in its first season (just like Florida’s first year, it’s destiny).

Over the years, Chance 2 Dance has had the opportunity to be invited to participate in special, professional performances: a VIP performance with Jordan Smith (season 9 winner of NBC ‘The Voice’), workshops with PILOBOLUS a world-reclaimed modern dance company, performed at halftime for the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls game, and was most recently was in a safety commercial with Koda the Fluff and the Central Florida Department of Transportation.

The full vision of Chance 2 Dance is merely a bunch of ideas in Nicole’s head. With the help of her unstoppable and talented team, there is much more growth and dance to be shared with all who want that opportunity. Chance 2 Dance currently provides inclusive and accommodating dance classes to over 800 individuals across Central Florida and New York City, representing over 20 disabilities, annually. Since its inception, C2D has created 12 programs to serve over 4,500 individuals with varying needs and has produced 16 professional stage performances, free to all participating dancers.