Learn more about one of our featured inclusive dance studios making a difference in Nashville!

MOVE Inclusive Dance is a dance studio for everybody and every body. Welcoming dancers of all ability levels, including those with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities, MOVE has built a warm, supportive community across its Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee locations.

Founder and executive director Lauren Morris has been a dancer her whole life. Growing up, the studio was always her favorite place and home to some of her fondest memories. At just thirteen, she asked her mom a simple but pointed question: why weren't there any dance studios for people with disabilities? That question never left her. After completing her dance education and building experience in the dance and fitness industry, she finally brought her long-held dream to life in 2018.

What began as a small summer camp has since grown into a full, year-round program. Classes like "Wheelchair Dance" and "Creative Movement" give students the chance to explore movement and build real-life skills in a space designed to adapt to them, rather than the other way around. True to its mission of inclusivity, MOVE offers "dance buddies" for students who want extra hands-on support, one more way the studio meets people where they are. 

MOVE’s impact goes far beyond dance. The spirit of inclusion, MOVE says, "fosters social connections, understanding, and acceptance among individuals of diverse backgrounds and abilities." Furthermore, the sense of belonging students find in class extends outward, benefiting every dancer, not just those with disabilities. Students have reported "improved physical health, enhanced emotional well-being, increased confidence, and a stronger sense of community," skills that carry far past the studio doors. 

At its core, MOVE believes in something simple: dance has the power to change lives.