Jamshedpur, Feb. 15: Breaking loose from the fetters of the body through dance is what School of Hope, a school for special children in the city, plans to teach its students.

In a move that goes beyond run-of-the-mill physiotherapy sessions, the school is looking at therapy through rhythm to help mentally-challenged children. Dance classes will be introduced from March. Helping the school in the novel initiative is Saptak, a city-based cultural organisation.

Niloy Mitter, secretary of Saptak, said trainers would hold weekly classes in Bharatnatyam and creative dances. The idea of conducting dance classes for special children, he said, stems from a desire to do something for the society at large. Mitter expects the students to pick up folk dance steps fast, though Bharatnatyam would be a greater challenge.

?Bharatnatyam needs precision and teaching the special children is difficult. But I am sure it?ll be an absolute delight because these children take their challenges very seriously and work really hard to prove themselves,? he said. The dreams don?t stop here. Saptak and School of Hope plan to hold cultural programmes with the trained children.

School principal Shyamala Raju said, ?The dance classes are bound to help students exercise all their muscles, especially facial muscles, something which physiotherapy sessions are incapable of doing.?

Though initially, a few students will be taught the dances, there are plans to take the classes to all children. Raju said experimenting with dance is an attempt to bring out talents which are eclipsed by their handicap.