Maxwell: ‘Everybody deserves a chance to dance.' This small studio in Maitland provides it

Hayley Treen is 23 years old, thoughtful and quite smart.

She also loves to dance.

The problem is that Hayley’s body doesn’t always cooperate. She spends most of her time in a wheelchair and sometimes has trouble lifting her arms and legs.

Some people might expect that to be the end of the story - that it’s just a sad reality that people like Hayley aren't meant to dance.

But Nicole Warren never accepted that. She created a nonprofit called Chance 2 Dance founded on the principle that everyone deserves to experience the joy of moving to music.

At first, Nicole just went to a few homes, schools and assisted-living centers to offer lessons here and there. But as she did, the more people wanted to get involved. And a one-woman operation blossomed into a nonprofit that now serves more than 1,600 students with more than 30 different disabilities and is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

"I just thought I would be dancing with a couple of kids," she said. "But I tried to listen and grow. I'm really just responding to a need."

On a recent Monday afternoon, disco-pop music by Abba was pumping in the nonprofit’s Maitland studio - and Hayley was at the center of it all.

While Hayley’s a wiz on a computer, she’s also deaf, has trouble speaking and can't move her limbs the way she'd like. So during class, instructor Sarah Briscoe helped Hayley's arms and feet do what they couldn't do on their own. Sarah beamed as she helped Hayley twirl and spin. There wasn't a hint of patronizing or pity. It was just two young women enjoying a dance class.

Sarah, like many of the instructors there, learned sign language, so she can communicate with her students. And on this day, she was wearing a T-shirt Hayley designed with a logo for the school. (I told you she was smart.)

While Hayley and Sarah danced in one part of the room, 12-year-old Tiem Strouse danced in another. Tiem has a genetic disorder called ADNP syndrome that is so rare, it has been diagnosed in fewer than 500 people worldwide. He has autism spectrum disorder, speech delays and dwarfism in his hands and feet. Still, he loves to dance.

Tiem's health insurance pays for basic physical therapy. But every parent wants more than just the basics for their child. Tiem's mother, Liz, sure did. "He needed far more, and I needed to find fun ways," she said. "This was it."

The two dancers were rehearsing for a big day next weekend - when Chance 2 Dance celebrates its anniversary with a "Decade of Dance" showcase performance. I’m excited to help host the event. These dancers deserve a spotlight.

The school teaches everything from ballet to Broadway, serves everyone from young children to septuagenarians and doesn't shy away from students with profound needs.

In fact, one of the most joyful parts of the job for Victor Wisehart, the studio's director of community outreach, is telling parents who’ve been repeatedly turned down that Chance 2 Dance would love to welcome them.

"The answer here," he said, "is always yes."

The school even offers a dance team. That's Ryan Adamczak's favorite part.

Ryan, 26, grew up in a house where his big sister danced, and he wanted to follow suit. But as a kid who struggled with autism, ADHD and anxiety, he didn't have many options, until his family discovered Chance 2 Dance.

"It really is a family and a community here," said his mother Sue. "Every staff member knows every student's name."

That's part of what makes the studio what Ryan calls his "happy place."

"It's a fun time," he said. "I like the applause … and the way you feel inside your body. Everybody deserves a chance to dance."

Nicole hopes to provide that opportunity to even more people if her nonprofit can raise enough money to expand. She’s already running programs for local schools that can’t afford their own full-time dance instructors and has started a second operation in New York.

One thing that both schools and parents find appealing is that Chance 2 Dance takes pride in setting high expectations. "They do real dancing here," said Hayley's mother, Donna. "This isn't some token class where kids go just to feel included."

When Ryan and his teammates go to dance competitions, they compete in the open categories against typical dance schools and have been known to take home medals.

"We don't treat them like they have special needs," Nicole said. "Are they going to be professional dancers? Probably not. But you never know. So why not shoot for the stars?"

Next weekend's dance showcase will be 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 17 at Wekiva High School. You can get more information about the event and this unique studio at chance2danceinc.org.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 6:17 AM.