Darby’s Dancers
When Meaghan Molsberry launched Avon’s Premier Academy of the Performing Arts in 2014, the mission was simple: to create a space where every child feels seen, supported and inspired in dance and in life.
She’s continuing that mission not only through ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap and other classes for all ages ranging from infants to adults, but Premier Academy has also launched a new program, Darby’s Dancers, aimed at offering inclusive programming for children and young adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Molsberry could see the need for inclusive dance classes early on. She previously worked with students with special needs in Wayne Township.
“I saw how the school system put the focus on not making your child fit the mold but helping the mold fit your child, and I watched students go from struggling to succeeding,” Molsberry says. “Year after year, I’d have a dance teacher on staff who also worked as a social worker, and she would talk about this need. Then someone else called and said, ‘You have to do this.’ So, we had talked about it for years and we’ve tried other inclusion programs, but it wasn’t until we found Darby’s Dancers that it was an instant, ‘This is what we’ve been looking for’ moment.”
Darby’s Dancers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by the parents of Darby Jones of Huntsville, Alabama.
Darby was born with Down syndrome, a heart defect and leukemia, and she loved dancing, music, reading and writing. Darby was given the opportunity to dance at a local performing arts center and loved every minute of it. After her passing in 2013, her parents formed a nonprofit charity to share Darby’s passion for dance with others.
Today, there are nearly 50 Darby’s Dancers programs active in studios across the country, and it was important to Molsberry that one was offered in her hometown.
Molsberry is a member of More Than Just Great Dancing (MTJGD), a support organization for thousands of dance studios across the world, and it was at a conference two years ago that she saw the Darby’s Dancers booth and began the process of bringing the program to Avon.
In fact, before they left the conference, it was clear that Darby’s Dancers was a path they should pursue.
“I got all of their information and said we’d be calling as soon as we got home. Before we ever left the event, we won a year of Darby’s Dancers programming. God always has a way. This was meant to be,” Molsberry says.
It took a year or so to get all their ducks in a row, but 2026 will officially be their first full year of the Darby’s Dancers program, and it’s just a matter of letting others know about the opportunity.
Parents and loved ones of young people with disabilities often seek programs that help with developmental delays or continue progress, and it doesn’t hurt for the program to be fun along the way.
“Teachers donate their time and every dancer gets a ‘Premier Pal’ — a dancer from another class at the studio to serve as a big brother or sister. We work on mobility, jumping, rolls, the trampoline and we do have routines, but the program is tailored to the kids’ needs and if today isn’t a good day, we switch it up,” Molsberry says. “The goal is to create a judgment-free, no-pressure but fun environment.”
The program is free to families who participate, and teachers donate their time for instruction.
“There is no monthly tuition fee or cost for costumes. Darby’s Dancers doesn’t want any additional strain when parents are typically paying for medical bills and additional care,” Molsberry says. “We do our fundraising in-house. We have a vending machine and all of those proceeds go toward Darby’s Dancers. We also have Pie Day. Teachers sign up to participate and customers vote for the teacher they want to see get a pie in the face. Those proceeds go toward Darby’s Dancers, and it’s always a huge hit.”
The team from Darby’s Dancers came to Premier Academy to help Molsberry and her staff set up. Logistically, they made sure they were ADA compliant and had space for the potential needs of their dancers.
Preparation can be very detailed when working through the wide-ranging needs of each individual, but with a successful program like Darby’s Dancers, Molsberry feels like they’ve finally hit their stride.
“Sometimes it’s about sensory issues. Some of our dancers don’t like a ton of kids running about. I’ve seen some people really love tap dancing while, for someone else, they can’t stand the sound,” Molsberry says. “Some can attend a full 45-minute class and others need to have more breaks in between. We do whatever is needed for that day.”
Whatever the abilities or preferences, Molsberry says so much good can come from participating in a similar class.
“We want to provide creativity, mobility, a love for art, coordination, balance, flexibility and perseverance. There’s always challenges and dancers learn dedication and responsibility,” Molsberry says. “We want to offer inclusive opportunities and the right fit for all dancers.”
Students in the traditional classrooms benefit too. They are learning dance along with being open and accepting of everyone, despite their abilities.
“The kids really want to be a Premier Pal or Darby’s Dancers helper, and it makes me feel good about the future. It’s easy to be depressed about where things are going in our world, but these kids truly have a heart for helping others and that in itself is amazing to watch,” Molsberry says.
They’re starting out small with a single class, but Molsberry is hopeful that as more people learn about the program, it will continue to grow.
“It is my true hope that in the future, we’ll have classes available for all dancers of all ages. It’s been so rewarding. I often teach our Darby’s Dancers class and the kids are so much fun to work with. Even on one of their bad days, it’s a great day,” Molsberry says.
Visit premieracademyofdance.com for more information.
