Photo by Ryan Kratzer

LEADD (Learning and Engaging through Arts Discipline and Development) is the University of Utah’s Tanner Dance arts and education program for adults with disabilities. It teaches valuable skills through performing and visual arts along with lifelong learning academic and skills based classes. The LEADD Program is designed to give adults with disabilities a place to learn, grow, and express themselves as individuals. Participants have the opportunity to perform and display their work in a year-end spring showcase. For adults who have physical and/or intellectual disabilities who have aged out of the public school system, LEADD provides a continuing education community.
The LEADD Program currently offers four classes each week during the fall and spring sessions. Registration is per class. All four classes will participate in the year-end showcase.
For ages 18+.
Needs-based scholarships and monthly payment options are available. Tanner Dance is a DSPD provider.
To learn more about how to register for this program, click here.
Class Information
LEADD Literary Arts
~ Monday 12:30 - 3:30 PM ~
LEADD & Elevate Fall Orientation (Guardians + Participants) - Monday, August 18, 2025 @ 6:15-7:00 PM via Zoom
LEADD Literary Arts First Day - Monday, August 18, 2025
Labor Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, September 1, 2025
Fall Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, October 6 - Saturday, October 11, 2025
Thanksgiving break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, November 24- Saturday, November 29, 2025
LEADD Winter Celebration - Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 3:30 PM (held during LEADD Fine Arts class for ALL LEADD participants)
Winter Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming– Monday, December 15, 2025 - Saturday, January 3, 2026
LEADD Literary Arts Resume - Monday, January 5, 2026
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No LEADD Literary Arts – Monday, January 19, 2026
AWD Art Night - Friday, February 6, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
President's Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, February 16, 2026
Spring Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, March 9 - Saturday, March 14, 2026
LEADD Showcase Dress Rehearsal - Thursday, April 9, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
LEADD Showcase + Gallery - Friday, April 10, 2026; 5:30 PM Gallery, 6:00 PM Showcase
LEADD Literary Arts Last Day - Monday, April 6, 2026
The Monday “Literary Arts” class will focus on literature, visual art, creative writing, and drama.
- Literacy will include thinking and engaging with on-level reading for adults with disabilities. They will read fiction and non-fiction material. Participants will engage in writing techniques and develop an understanding of literary elements.
- Visual art will explore concepts such as shape, line, color, texture, and pattern and use class literature and writing as springboards for visual art composition.
- Drama will focus on building fundamental acting/theatre skills through improvisation, on-level games, and readers theater.
LEADD STEAM
~ Tuesday 12:30 - 3:30 PM ~
LEADD & Elevate Fall Orientation (Guardians + Participants) - Monday, August 18, 2025 @ 6:15-7:00 PM via Zoom
LEADD STEAM First Day - Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Labor Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, September 1, 2025
Fall Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, October 6 - Saturday, October 11, 2025
Thanksgiving break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, November 24- Saturday, November 29, 2025
LEADD Winter Celebration - Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 3:30 PM (held during LEADD Fine Arts class for ALL LEADD participants)
Winter Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming– Monday, December 15, 2025 - Saturday, January 3, 2026
LEADD STEAM Resumes - Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No LEADD Literary Arts – Monday, January 19, 2026
AWD Art Night - Friday, February 6, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
President's Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, February 16, 2026
Spring Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, March 9 - Saturday, March 14, 2026
LEADD Showcase Dress Rehearsal - Thursday, April 9, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
LEADD Showcase + Gallery - Friday, April 10, 2026; 5:30 PM Gallery, 6:00 PM Showcase
LEADD STEAM Last Day - Tuesday, April 7, 2026
The Tuesday “STEAM” class will focus on science, music, and dance.
- Science will include investigation, problem solving, and hands on experiments through engaging, on-level science curriculum for adults with disabilities.
- Music will increase participants’ knowledge in melody, rhythm, and dynamics while the class sings, composes, and performs together.
- Dance will explore shape, space, rhythm, movement quality and include appropriate technique exercises for the whole body. Teachers will utilize literature and ideas from science curriculum to engage students in creative movement exploration.
LEADD Community Engagement
~ Wednesday 12:30 - 3:30 PM ~
LEADD & Elevate Fall Orientation (Guardians + Participants) - Monday, August 18, 2025 @ 6:15-7:00 PM via Zoom
LEADD Community of Caring First Day - Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Labor Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, September 1, 2025
Fall Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, October 6 - Saturday, October 11, 2025
Thanksgiving break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, November 24- Saturday, November 29, 2025
LEADD Winter Celebration - Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 3:30 PM (held during LEADD Fine Arts class for ALL LEADD participants)
Winter Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming– Monday, December 15, 2025 - Saturday, January 3, 2026
LEADD Community of Caring Resumes - Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No LEADD Literary Arts – Monday, January 19, 2026
AWD Art Night - Friday, February 6, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
President's Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, February 16, 2026
Spring Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, March 9 - Saturday, March 14, 2026
LEADD Showcase Dress Rehearsal - Thursday, April 9, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
LEADD Showcase + Gallery - Friday, April 10, 2026; 5:30 PM Gallery, 6:00 PM Showcase
LEADD Community of Caring Last Day - Wednesday, April 8, 2026
The Wednesday “Community Engagement” class will focus on history, community & service, personal & social well-being and include a short movement class.
- Community Engagement will help students build awareness of and their role in their world and community through interactive lessons, targeted field trips, and service projects. We use different modes of transportation and will occasionally have different class locations.
- Adapted PE will engage learners in body awareness and motor skills through a variety of adapted physical activities and cooperative sports.
- Personal & Social Well-Being will focus on developing self-advocacy skills and how to respect one’s own emotions while respecting others as well. Much of the focus will be on developing well-being through the arts.
LEADD Fine Arts
~ Thursday 12:30 - 3:30 PM ~
LEADD & Elevate Fall Orientation (Guardians + Participants) - Monday, August 18, 2025 @ 6:15-7:00 PM via Zoom
LEADD Fine Arts First Day - Thursday, August 21, 2025
Labor Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, September 1, 2025
Fall Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, October 6 - Saturday, October 11, 2025
Thanksgiving break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, November 24- Saturday, November 29, 2025
LEADD Winter Celebration - Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 3:30 PM (held during LEADD Fine Arts class for ALL LEADD participants)
Winter Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming– Monday, December 15, 2025 - Saturday, January 3, 2026
LEADD Fine Arts Resumes - Thursday, January 8, 2026
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No LEADD Literary Arts – Monday, January 19, 2026
AWD Art Night - Friday, February 6, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
President's Day No LEADD Literary Arts– Monday, February 16, 2026
Spring Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming – Monday, March 9 - Saturday, March 14, 2026
LEADD Showcase Dress Rehearsal - Thursday, April 9, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
LEADD Showcase + Gallery - Friday, April 10, 2026; 5:30 PM Gallery, 6:00 PM Showcase
LEADD Fine Arts Last Day - Thursday, April 9, 2026
The Thursday “Fine Arts” class will focus on dance, visual art, and music.
- Dance will explore shape, space, rhythm, movement quality and include appropriate technique exercises for the whole body. Teachers will utilize literature and other springboards to engage students in creative movement exploration.
- Visual art will explore concepts such as shape, line, color, texture, and pattern, and culminate in unique visual art compositions.
- Music will increase participants’ knowledge in melody, rhythm, and dynamics while the class sings, composes, and performs together.
Meetings with New Participants
As a new participant, our program directors would love to meet with you before you register. We will give a more specific program overview as well as discuss program expectations, specific needs for the participant, answer questions, and gain a general sense if this program will be a good fit. By meeting before classes begin, Tanner Dance faculty will have a better understanding of how to best support the participant and ensure a positive experience.
Please email Ben Tillotson at ben.tillotson@utah.edu to schedule a date to meet with our LEADD and Elevate directors.
Adults with Disabilities Calendar
Below are the calendar dates for all of our Adults with Disabilities Programs (all LEADDS and Elevate). Please refer to the calendar below if you have any questions about when classes begin, end, and any breaks in between.
LEADD & Elevate Fall Orientation (Guardians + Participants)
Monday, August 18, 2025 @ 6:15-7:00 PM via Zoom
LEADD Literary Arts First Day
Monday, August 18, 2025
LEADD STEAM First Day
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
LEADD Community Engagement First Day
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
LEADD Fine Arts First Day
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Elevate First Day
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Labor Day No LEADD Literary Arts
Monday, September 1, 2025
Fall Break No Adaptive Needs Adult Programming
Monday, October 6 - Saturday, October 11, 2025
Adaptive Needs Adult Art Night
Friday, November 21, 2025
Thanksgiving break No Adaptive Needs Adult Programming
Monday, November 24- Saturday, November 29, 2025
LEADD Winter Celebration
Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 3:30 PM (held during LEADD Fine Arts class for ALL LEADD participants)
Winter Break No Adaptive Needs Adult Programming
Monday, December 15, 2025 - Saturday, January 3, 2026
LEADD Literary Arts Resume
Monday, January 5, 2026
LEADD STEAM Resumes
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
LEADD Community of Caring Resumes
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
LEADD Fine Arts Resumes
Thursday, January 8, 2026
Elevate Resumes
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day No LEADD Literary Arts
Monday, January 19, 2026
President's Day No LEADD Literary Arts
Monday, February 16, 2026
Spring Break No Adults with Disabilities Programming
Monday, March 9 - Saturday, March 14, 2026
LEADD Showcase Dress Rehearsal
Thursday, April 9, 2026 @ 5:30 PM
LEADD Showcase + Gallery
Friday, April 10, 2026; 5:30 PM Gallery, 6:00 PM Showcase
LEADD Literary Arts Last Day
Monday, April 6, 2026
LEADD STEAM Last Day
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
LEADD Community Engagement Last Day
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
LEADD Fine Arts Last Day
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Elevate Tech Rehearsal
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 @ Rose Wagner Theatre
Elevate Dress Rehearsal
Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ Rose Wagner Theatre
Elevate Dress Rehearsal
Friday, April 17, 2026 @ Rose Wagner Theatre
Elevate Performance
Saturday, April 18, 2026 @ Rose Wagner Theatre
Elevate Last Day
Saturday, April 18, 2026