← Stories & Impact

A serendipitous partnership is changing the lives of young adults with disabilities. When Cynthia Phillips, Director of Community Supports Programs for Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania, went looking for a meaningful winter activity for her participants, she found Anthony “Solo” Harris — and a natural match was made.

Harris’s passion for dance and his commitment to serving the disability community lined up exactly with what the Easterseals Community Supports program is built to do: connect young adults with disabilities to purposeful activities in the community. What began as a seasonal idea quickly became a daily part of the program.

The Response

“A Game-Changer” for the Participants

Harris now provides daily dance classes for individuals enrolled in the Community Supports program — some of whom are non-verbal — encouraging them to express themselves freely through movement. According to Easterseals, the engagement is unmistakable.

“Anthony’s dance classes have been a game-changer for these young adults… They are 100% engaged as shown through their facial expressions. The students are not only exercising, but they are also connecting with their peers and learning in a community environment.”

— Cynthia Phillips, Director of Community Supports Programs, Easterseals Eastern PA

Phillips didn’t stop at satisfaction. Easterseals extended the partnership into the summer, inviting Harris to teach at the organization’s day camp.

“We are thrilled with Anthony and the impact he is having on our Community Supports program. This summer, he will also teach classes at Camp Lily, our summer day camp.”

— Cynthia Phillips, Easterseals Eastern PA

Why It Works

Why Dance Works as Therapy

For individuals with developmental disabilities, dance can positively affect attention span, memory, the ability to follow instructions, and physical strength and coordination. Its power comes from sensorimotor integration — expressing emotions and ideas through individual movement while controlling the body and taking part in group movement at the same time. In short, dance encourages healthy well-being.

That growth was visible to Harris from inside the classroom, too.

“Everyone has grown so much since the start of these classes. They have overcome shyness and learned to trust me… I can see them doing performances and competitions.”

— Anthony “Solo” Harris, Founder, Solo Expression

The Founder

Built on a Lifetime of Service

Harris began dancing at 13 and, by 18, was performing professionally with the ENVY dance group out of Newark, NJ. When he wanted a more sustainable path after his daughter was born, he was encouraged to work with children — beginning at Bonnie Brae, then at Sevita (formerly Mentor), an in-home and community health care company. That experience, he says, prepared him for the work he does today. He opened Solo Expression in August 2021 to make dance accessible to everyone.

“I never thought I would receive so much fulfillment,” Harris said. “There are times I need to hold back tears as I witness what the students are trying to figure out and what they are saying through dance.”