Meet the nonprofit teaching ‘movement arts’ to people with disabilities

“Around the Corner” is a PhillyCAM show that offers local social impact leaders the opportunity to share what impact their work is having on the Philadelphia area. 

Have you seen people hula hoop dancing or performing aerial acrobatics at your local park or festival? These performers may be a part of the Spin Coalition, and they want you to know what they’re all about.

Spin Coalition is a volunteer-run organization of about 7,000 individuals that celebrates the movement arts — juggling, hula hoop dancing, fire performances, aerial acrobatics — throughout Philadelphia, according to Lauren Magness, SpinCo’s promotions and outreach coordinator. The group hosts events and educational workshops for movement arts enthusiasts of all levels.

Their newest program is SpinCo Together. Launch last month, it serves people with “emotional, mental and behavioral disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities” by promoting creative self expression, physical and mental exercise and meaningful friendships, Magness said in her “Around the Corner” interview.

“I personally have experienced great benefits from movement arts — physically, emotionally — and I just want to be able to share that with individuals that I know can benefit from it,” she said.

Learn more about Spin Coalition and SpinCo Together below.

PhillyCAM is Comcast channel 66/966 HD/967 and Verizon FIOS channel 29/30 in Philadelphia.