<div><p>When Kim Smith wasn't able to find a dance class for her 7-year-old autistic daughter Reagan, she decided to take matters into her own hands.</p><p>"As a parent it was heartbreaking to feel like she didn't fit in at a place that was exactly where she should have fit in," <a href="https://www.babble.com/parenting/special-needs-dance-class-a-chance-to-dance/">she recalls.</a> "I knew there had to be other parents that felt the same way."</p><p>After finding a space at Miss Donna's School of Dance, this North Carolina mom began teaching 7 students, all of who have special needs. That is where A Chance To Dance was born. </p><p>Since 2015 her class has grown to 34 students and 10 volunteers. Catering to a variety of students with different conditions including Down Syndrome, Blindness, Dwarfism, Amputations, Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy, the dances are tailored to each student's ability. </p><div><figure><a href="http://www.today.com/parents/chance-dance-helps-special-needs-kids-learn-dance-t108931" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/chance-to-dance-today-inline-3-170306_8a04ec15b16d1bc32bb86c38b122a5bc-today-inline-large.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/chance-to-dance-today-inline-3-170306_8a04ec15b16d1bc32bb86c38b122a5bc-today-inline-large_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/chance-to-dance-today-inline-3-170306_8a04ec15b16d1bc32bb86c38b122a5bc-today-inline-large_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="http://www.today.com/parents/chance-dance-helps-special-needs-kids-learn-dance-t108931" target="_blank">Today</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>"Between the ages of 5 and 6 I really struggled trying to find a class outside of therapies she attends where she could develop social skills with peers. The last place where she attended a special needs cheer program she would pretty much be left on the sidelines because "˜she required too much' and they didn't have enough volunteers although all the other children were matched with a volunteer," <a href="https://www.babble.com/parenting/special-needs-dance-class-a-chance-to-dance/">said Kim</a>. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Unknown-2-1-624x761.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Unknown-2-1-624x761_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Babble</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Kim gives these kids the chance to compete alongside other dancers. Recently they performed their dance routine to <em>Singing in the Rain</em> on stage for the first time.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/chance-to-dance-today-inline-1-170306_8a04ec15b16d1bc32bb86c38b122a5bc-today-inline-large.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/chance-to-dance-today-inline-1-170306_8a04ec15b16d1bc32bb86c38b122a5bc-today-inline-large_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/chance-to-dance-today-inline-1-170306_8a04ec15b16d1bc32bb86c38b122a5bc-today-inline-large_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Today</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>"There are not enough words to express how happy we are to see her dance. The first time we watched her dance I think my husband and I cried for a full 30 minutes. She literally was shining," said Angie Sinyard, mother of Sophia Grace who is 6 years old.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><div><amp-facebook data-href="https://www.facebook.com/today/videos/10155202467121350/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED" layout="responsive" height="600" width="640"></amp-facebook></div><p>"I'm a little person, but when we get on that stage, we're all the same," dancer Ava Whipple told <i>Today.</i>"It makes me feel extremely happy and big."</p><p><strong>SHARE this inspiring story with a friend. </strong></p></div>