Therapeutic Dance Intervention for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Inclusion Criteria

• Cerebral palsy spastic diplegia and/or hemiplegia
• Absence of health problems that would preclude participation in exercise
• Male or female age 9 - 15 years inclusive at the time of consent
• Minimum level of intellectual functioning (e.g., as determined by an IQ score of 80 or above or other education placement and testing indicating sufficient understanding)
• Ability to complete study measures at the assessment
• Ability to participate in dance classes conducted in English
• Interest in learning ballet
• Intact vision
• Intact hearing
• Able to ambulate independently in the community with or without a device
• Intact proprioception in lower extremities
• Able to complete assessment measures and consents in English
• Referral from the child's pediatrician or other physician indicating that the child is physically able to participate in an exercise intervention

Exclusion Criteria

• Children with a current diagnosis of severe Major Depressive Disorder
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Epilepsy
• Autism
• Other major medical conditions that prohibit full participation and children with severe developmental disorders (e.g., mental retardation, severe autism) or with physical impairments that prohibit full participation were excluded from the study.