Teacher wins Inspirations Award for neurodivergent dance school

A Montreal dance studio providing a safe space for neurodivergent students

“Oh, I am just so proud of my company, of what we’ve established since 2012. I didn’t expect anything like this, really. But I was shocked and honoured, beyond honoured, to receive this award.”

Jodi Thiboutot

Jodi Thiboutot is the winner of the Inspirations Entrepreneurial Award for her dance studio for neurodivergent Students — Studio J, located on Montreal’s West Island.

It started with just three students in 2012 and has now grown to 20 students. It provides a safe space for those with special needs to dance and express themselves.

Her student Francis thinks Thiboutot “is very awesome.”

Thiboutot worked at a high school and they had asked her to teach dance to the resource department. They made a big production of it. They did “Thriller.” It was a huge success. That is when Thiboutot realized that they didn’t really have anything like it outside of the school.

“There’s soccer, there’s cheerleading, but there was never a dance program. So I figured, you know what, this has to get started. We need to be able to offer this,” Thiboutot said.

“I like to dance and do hip-hop with my friends,” added one of her students.

“We modify our moves so that everybody is able to participate,” said Thiboutot. “We’re also aware that they have different needs, that some of them are sensitive to sound. Some of them are sensitive to fabrics, so certain costumes can’t be worn. We also make them aware of certain events that are coming up so they’re prepared, whereas you wouldn’t really have to do that with a neurotypical kid. We really adapt to their abilities. We also teach them a bit of social skills during class as well. So that’s something a little bit more that they don’t offer in regular dance classes.”

She wants her students to know that they can accomplish anything: “You just have to push them a little bit, teach them something new, don’t be afraid to do that. They’re very, very capable. They absolutely adore music and dance.”

One student comments that “it’s the most fun way of exercising.”

Thiboutot shares that her students can do anything they want to. When they leave that stage after the show, they are just so incredibly proud of what they’ve done.

“They go in front of a whole audience,” she said. “I mean, besides just learning these dances, they go in front of a large audience and perform them. So it’s just absolutely incredible to watch.”

To read Thiboutot’s full story – check out the latest issue of the Inspirations newspaper.