ADAPT: Approach to Dance for Autism

NCT07216768 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: STUDY-25-00779
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

It is well documented that motor impairments are associated with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, appropriate therapies are scarce. Dance has been shown to not only promote fine and gross motor skills, but also psychological well-being, cognition, and social participation in neurotypical dancers. Little research has been conducted to gauge if these benefits translate to those with ASD. Ballet for all Kids (BFAK) is a recreational dance program that has been teaching ballet to children with ASD for over a decade, but has yet to be empirically studied. This study expands on the goals of former STUDY 24-00144, Approach to Dance for Autism (ADAPT), NCT06424366, to elucidate the impact of participation in a recreational dance program on children with ASD.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Keywords

Ballet; Recreational dance; Autism Spectrum Disorder; motor coordination; social skills

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ)

  The change in scores on the DCDQ at baseline and weeks 6 and 12 of the BFAK program. The DCDQ is a 15 item questionnaire designed to screen for coordination challenges in children from 5 to 15 years old and has long been used in children with ASD. It comprises 3 subscales: (1) Control during movement (scale 9-45), (2) Fine Motor/Handwriting (scale 11-55), and (3) General Coordination (scale 10-50). Scores are calculated by weighting the domains as follows: (Control during movement/30) + (Fine Motor/Handwriting/20) + (General Coordination/25) = TOTAL, reported as a range from 15-75. Higher scores indicate better coordination. For Children Ages 5 years 0 months to 7 years 11 months: 5-46 indication of DCD or suspect DCD; 47-75 probably not DCD For Children Ages 8 yrs 0 mos to 9 yrs 11 mos: 15-55 indication of DCD or suspect DCD; 56-75 probably not DCD For Children Ages 10 yrs 0 mos to 15 yrs: 15-57 indication of DCD or suspect DCD; 58-75 probably not DCD

  baseline, week 6,and week 12

• Change in Pediatric Balance Scale

  The difference in participants' scores on the Pediatric Balance scale at baseline and week 12. The Pediatric Balance Scale is a 14-item questionnaire that prompts children to complete certain movements such as standing unsupported, turning 360 degrees, and retrieving an object from the floor. Completion of movements are scored on a scale from 0 to 4. Full scale is scored 0-56, with higher scores corresponding to more advanced motor skills.

  baseline and week 12

• Change in Movement Assessment Battery for Children.

  The difference in participants' scores on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) at baseline and week 12. The MABC is a standardized tool used to identify and describe motor impairments in children. It assesses fine and gross motor skills across everyday movement domains, and is commonly used for diagnosing Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and related difficulties. The MABC is divided into three domains: (1) Manual Dexterity (0-15), (2) Aiming \& Catching (0-10), (3) Balance (0-15). Full scale is scored from 0-40 as a sum of the three domains. A higher total score indicates greater motor difficulty/impairment. Lower scores indicate better motor competence.

  baseline and weeks12

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC)

  baseline, week 6, week 12

• Swanson, Nolan and Pelham (SNAP-IV)

  baseline, week 6, week 12

• Number of classes attended

  baseline, week 6, week 12

Study Arms (2)

Cohort 1 - Classes in fall

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants randomly assigned to cohort 1 will begin classes in fall 2025. Parents/guardians will complete surveys just one time over the 12 week intervention

Behavioral: Ballet Class

Cohort 2 - Classes in spring

EXPERIMENTAL

This cohort is a waitlist control. Parents/guardians will complete all surveys during the fall while their children do not receive the intervention. They will then receive the intervention in the spring and surveys will be completed again.

Behavioral: Ballet Class

Interventions

Ballet Class BEHAVIORAL

Participants will attend weekly ballet classes following either Level 1 or Level 2 Ballet For All Kids (BFAK) curriculum.

Cohort 1 - Classes in fall; Cohort 2 - Classes in spring

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• years age
• understand English or Spanish
• Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis
• not currently taking ballet class

You may not qualify if:

• \- none

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: lead
• Ballet Academy East: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York, New York, 10029, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Social Skills

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Social Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Michelle J Adler, BSc

  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Michelle J Adler, BSc

CONTACT

650-556-4524; michelle.adler@icahn.mssm.edu

Noy Alon

CONTACT

noy.alon@icahn.mssm.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for the Mount Sinai Health System; Clinical Director of the Seaver Autism Center

Model Details: Participants will participate in 12 weeks of recreational ballet classes following the established Ballet For All Kids curriculum. Participants will have weekly 45 minute classes with videos covering moves taught in class that are to be watched 3x/week. In class, participation and balance scales will be used to evaluate motor function. Parents or guardians will complete questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, and completion of the program. This study is a waitlist control model, where one group will complete surveys in the fall while not receiving the intervention, and again in the Spring while taking the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2025
• First Posted: October 15, 2025
• Study Start: August 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 3, 2026
• Study Completion: May 3, 2026
• Last Updated: October 15, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)