Destiny Disability Dance

"Dance is for everyone!"

Founded in May 2025, Destiny Disability Dance aims to create a safe space for all disabilities to enjoy dancing.

Working with The Snappy Trust and Bee-Able, founder Destiny Sparkes teaches dance classes for young people with all disabilities several times a month (mainly during school holidays).

The classes teach important skills like strength of the body(which enables the dancers to control themselves), balance and core flexibility and rhythm with co-ordination.

They also teach mental wellbeing, the social aspects are important for the students and their parents/carers as they get a chance to make friends and step outside their bubble and feel included by talking to and being around others.

The inspiration 

Destiny herself started dancing aged 11 and she dances every style from tap to contemporary.

At 15 years old, she taught her first dance class at the dance school she attends.

Speaking about her early teaching experience, Destiny said: "I once got a student whose only goal was to skip. I taught her in that one class and and she left beaming! She came back the next week and her mum told me that she hadn't stopped skipping all week."

 "That was when I realised that dance could bring so much joy."

This experience inspired her to keep teaching and bringing the joy of dance to young people in York, no matter their ability.

When asked when she knew she wanted to work with disabilities, Sparkes spoke about working with a disabled teenager whose needs hadn't been met in previous dance classes she had attended. 

Sparkes said: "I integrated her with my teens class that I did at the time. She did super well and the feedback I got from hr mum and carer was beautiful."

"I then thought, 'I didn't even have to try with that', I built a great relationship with her and I was able to do dancing with her and for her. It was amazing!"

How the classes started

The first 'Destiny Disability Dance' classes were trialled at Applefields School in York, where Destiny works. 

She taught a few sessions there and "the young people loved it!"

She then taught some volunteer classes and attended an open day/sports day at York Sports Village which they held for people with disabilities.

Destiny Disability Dance stood out to everyone at the sports day because dance hadn't been an option for people with disabilities in York, so there was a gap in the market.

Naturally, Destiny filled this gap and ran with it.

"If I can bring some joy through dance to people, why not run with it?"

The importance of dance and inclusion

When asked what her favourite part of teaching these classes is, she said: "(It's) 100% seeing the young people's growth."

"Whether it be in dance or making friends, or even speaking with me, it's all growth!"

Through teaching her classes, Destiny says she has learnt many lessons, her key takeaway being that: "things really aren't that deep".

Sparkes said: "I have learnt to be so much more relaxed - I've become so relaxed that I'm horizontal!"

She continued, saying: "Dance is all about enjoyment so when I'm teaching my classes, it's okay aren't doing it exactly right, my main aim has become happiness and enjoyment first before the dance element."

Dance itself is such a powerful tool, not only is it a fabulous way to move your body and have fun boogieing to your favourite music but it can be used as a form of self-expression when the words just won't come out.

Destiny Sparkes said: "Dance is a form of regulation, a language in which you can channel your emotions through movement and socialisation."

"I learnt this growing up and I think dance should be accessible to anyone, everywhere."

Next Steps for the company

Destiny's next step is to study dance and movement psychotherapy at university.

She hopes this will help her grow the dance company and work with people in hospital or in foster care as well as disabilities. 

Sparkes wants to work with "anyone who needs in pep in their step."

Eventually, she wants 'Destiny Disability Dance' to come under the business name of 'DESTINY'.

She is currently looking into starting disability classes for physical disabilities without neurodivergence and a class for hidden/invisible disabilities.

 The aim, to create "a safe environment for people who are a little anxious to start a dance class and need that extra 'one more time' phrase."

How to get involved

If you are interested and want to get involved in Destiny Disability Dance classes, contact Destiny Sparks via email or Instagram.

Email: Destinysparkes@yahoo.com

Instagram: destiny_sparkes