Our Methodology
MindLeaps harnesses the power of dance
to guide vulnerable children and youth to
safe spaces, academic opportunity and
lifelong skills development.
Our Impact
- Since 2014, 10,000 children have completed the MindLeaps program across six different countries.
- 70% of students perform in the top 20% of their academic classes after completing the MindLeaps dance program.
- MindLeaps has seen a 0% drop out rate for students in formal education and vocational training.
CORE DANCE CURRICULUM
The core of the MindLeaps Dance & Data program is a strategically designed, highly-targeted dance curriculum created by professional dancers, psychologists and educators with expertise in working with youth from vulnerable populations. Recent studies have shown the importance of movement in the development of learning skills, and much of this research has informed the evolution of the MindLeaps curriculum.
This curriculum is built around five progressive modules, designed to meet students at their ability level, both physically and social-emotionally. To participate in the program, youth join 2-hour sessions, 3 times per week, taught by highly trained instructors. These classes follow a formal structure and require a tremendous amount of energy and mental concentration.
The extreme rigor of the class is one of the key reasons why students are motivated to keep returning day after day: they improve and see that, often for the first time in their lives, they are capable of self-betterment. In fact, MindLeaps classes have a 95% student retention rate after the initial two-week period due to the dynamic teaching style, the varied methodology and the attractiveness of the core activity: dance.
Cognitive and Social-Emotional Development
MindLeaps’ innovation lies in its ability to capitalize on the underlying power of its codified dance programming. Students not only feel the pure joy of creative movement, but are also simultaneously engaged in a deep experiential program for cognitive development and social-emotional learning. MindLeaps has strategically designed its classes around imparting skills that are often lacking in the youths’ current environment, but are necessary for not only academic success, but success in life.
Over the course of each class, multiple exercises focus on seven key cognitive and social-emotional skills:
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Data indicates that MindLeaps youth, on average, show a minimum of 35% improvement in cognitive and noncognitive skills. The monitoring and evaluation of individualized progress is facilitated via Tracker, MindLeaps’ mobile application and software system with real-time analytics. Within the application, which works offline and lives on an Android tablet, each cognitive and social-emotional skill is matched with specific descriptors within the dance curriculum. Each skill is given a defined rubric and grading system based on collaborative research between MindLeaps, Carnegie Mellon University and Drexel University.
During classes, dance teachers are able to track each student with the app. The resulting real-time analytics, viewable by teachers and organizational heads, allow staff to make critical decisions around each child’s improvement, their growth of emotional regulation, school readiness, or extra needs for attention and services. Since long-term historical trends are easily viewable, Tracker also helps organizations maintain the quality and consistency of the program as various trainers join or leave the teaching staff.
BEYOND THE CORE CURRICULUM
The core dance curriculum lays a foundation for success, preparing youth with the cognitive and social-emotional skills that are pathways to further education, employment and self-sufficiency. The model expands from the core curriculum both at MindLeaps’ own permanent centers and through partnerships with other organizations.
At the MindLeaps permanent centers in Rwanda and Guinea, a holistic approach begins with the core dance curriculum and continues on to add academic acceleration courses, IT training and English language classes. Those children who adapt to this more structured framework, and develop across key cognitive skills areas, are prepared to attend school or vocational training programs in their own country.
Through partnerships, MindLeaps can embed its curriculum in the workings of other organizations serving at-risk youth across the world. MindLeaps partners with NGOs and international organizations to provide the opportunity to adopt the fundamental components of the MindLeaps program for their internal operations. The MindLeaps Toolkit Suite equips partnering organizations to continue the dance program with their own local MindLeaps-trained teachers after an initial three-month period of collaboration with MindLeaps staff in the field. Tracker serves as the ongoing monitoring system to assure continuing quality.
