ABOUT US

LIMITLESS. INCLUSIVE. LOVE.

International Dance Organisation & Educational Leader

CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF CREATING SAFE, INCLUSIVE & ACCESSIBLE DANCE SPACES

BAMD is centered on fun, inclusive dance lessons that prioritize building strong relationships with people with disabilities. These relationships encourage both teachers and students to take full responsibility for their experience and engagement through safety and empowerment.

With a “teacher-first” approach, our continuously evolving instructors aim to meet students where they are, creating classes from an unbiased foundation to provide a dance-first experience that promotes challenge, independence, and community immersion.

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MOVE TOGETHER, SHINE TOGETHER

WE ARE LIMITLESS

TAKING IT BACK OVER THE YEARS

  • BAMD began in Brisbane Australia out of a community centre called SPACE (specialised programs and community endeavours)

  • BAMD's debut performance in front of the Brisbane Dance Community at the Mad Dance House Hype night

  • BAMD Brisbane performed at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle Australia in front of 40,000 people

  • BAMD raised $60,000 and took a group of 30 dancers with and without disabilities to perform at the Special Olympics WORLD GAMES in LA

  • On this trip they also performed at 2015 National Dance Day event hosted by Nigel Lythgoe, the So You Think You Can Dance x Special Olympics competition (came 2nd) and were personally invited to close the 2015 Dizzy Feet Gala hosted by Nigel Lythgoe in Los Angeles

  • BAMD Toronto first trial class through Special Olympics Ontario

  • BAMD Toronto officially began programming, in Canada

  • BAMD travelled to Mexico to facilitate classes and curate a performance for people with disabilities 

  • BAMD transitioned completely online due to Covid and our online programming expanded including the launch of BAMD On Demand

  • BAMD officially partnered with the TDSB (Toronto District School Board) to facilitate programming in schools across Toronto. BAMD also presented at the Dance Teacher Expo in Sydney Australia

  • BAMD officially launched a Teacher Training Certification

DANCE HAS NO LIMITS

OUR VALUES

WHAT SHAPES ALL OF WHAT WE DO

At BAMD we aim to provide fun and inclusive dance education, empowering teachers globally through expertly crafted training programs in order to create and foster dance communities where individuals with disabilities and teachers thrive together.

LIMITLESS

INCLUSIVE

LOVE

Recognizing the boundless opportunities, potential and expansion of our students, society and global community.

A consistent practice in self acceptance and respect of all regardless of ability, age, size, sex, gender, religion and race.

Believing and embodying that we are whole, complete and enough as individuals just as we are and offering the most generous interpretation to those around us.

WHERE WE STARTED

THE STORY OF BAMD

BAMD was founded in 2009 after Founder, Ali Phillips was invited to assist Big Night Out – a monthly social event for young adults with disabilities in Brisbane, Australia. It was immediately apparent how much joy dance brought both the participants and Ali herself, allowing everyone the opportunity to be authentically themselves.

Classes officially began after parents asked Ali to hold structured dance classes for these same young adults and over the years BAMD has been in high demand and has experienced exceptional growth. BAMD’s expansion can be attested to the desire of Ali to merge the "community and commercial" dance industries and her ask to both recreational and professional dance spaces to offer studio rentals for weekly BAMD classes.

  • This business model allowed for more teachers, students, performances, partnerships events and even international developments. Now in its 15th year of operation, BAMD operates out of Brisbane, Australia as well as Toronto Canada with the exciting pursuit of offering Teachers worldwide to be certified as a registered licensee! World domination and for every dance studio in the entire world to offer inclusive classes for kids, teens and adults with disabilities is the vision.

ABOUT OUR FOUNDER

LEARN ABOUT ALI

Did you know that our Founder, Ali didn’t grow up around Disability?

Did you know that it wasn’t her initial passion to run classes for people with disabilities?

Would it surprise you to know that she held negative, harmful and even discriminating thoughts towards people with disabilities?

From the outside it’s easy to assume Ali was just naturally drawn to creating safe, inclusive and accessible dance spaces but actually it was something that she learned to love.

With directing BAMDance at an international level, Ali is deeply passionate about personal and professional development and brings her 15 years of knowledge and experience to as many international dance communities as possible.

BREAKING LIMITS, BUILDING CONFIDENCE

WE ARE LIMITLESS

HOW ELSE CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?

  • HAVE US HOST AN EVENT OR DANCE PARTY

    Have an event or party coming up and looking for specialised, expert and inclusive instructors to lead the crowd? Look no further and book BAMD!

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  • VOLUNTEER WITH US

    BAMD are looking for FUN, passionate volunteers for ALL our classes! If you want to be apart of our organisation then get in touch! No prior dance or experience working with people with disabilities needed!

    APPLY HERE

  • BOOK US FOR IN-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS

    Our in-school workshops include mindfulness, body awareness activities, freestyle, follow along dance movement, learning choreography and more!

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  • DANCE CLASSES FOR DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS

    Hire our experienced, passionate and inclusive Dance Teachers to facilitate structured dance classes.

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  • SIGN UP FOR A BAMD CLASS OR PROGRAM

    In person and virtual (live streamed) classes for kids, teens and adults with disabilities across Toronto and the GTA and Brisbane, Australia

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  • BECOME A CERTIFIED BAMD LICENSEE

    Are you ready to run BAMD classes in your own city/studio? We could NOT be more excited to share the magic of BAMDance with the WORLD and have passionate, intentional and CONSCIOUS teachers executing inclusive dance classes for people with disabilities.

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  • BOOK OUR 3HR INTRO WORKSHOP

    Do you already teach a few students with disabilities but are seeking extra knowledge in order to provide them with greater support? Do you want your staff to feel confident including ALL students in their classes?

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  • PARTICIPATE IN OUR WEBINAR SERIES

    Our webinars on demand are a complete intro to making your dance classes more inclusive for people with disabilities

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