Personally Adapted Dance
Every movement is broken down into simple steps, at an adapted pace, with visual cue cards and movement props. The rhythm is built around the student — never the other way around.
Every special-needs student has a place in the circle
Dancing Without Borders or Limits
The National Dance Conference for Special Education Schools
A national program that brings adapted Israeli folk dance into schools for special-education students — for every functioning level, ages 6 to 21 — building each year toward one big moment: a national dance conference where hundreds of students take the stage, perform for an open audience — everyone is welcome, free of charge — and feel like they belong and can be proud.
Under Ministry of Education supervision
An initiative of Agam School, Raanana
An initiative of Agam School, Raanana
Photo: Uri Kaufman
Since 2018Every year, all across the country
Ofir Schonwetter-Lazar, founder of the conference and program · Meital Cohen-Or, principal of Agam School · 2026.
Who We Are · How It All Began
A Child's Dream That Grew Into a National Circle
As a girl, Ofir attended an elementary school in Haifa that took part in the "Dancing School" project — where, once a year, students from different schools came together and danced as one. After finishing her studies, she dreamed of creating that exact same gathering for special-education students too — only accessible and adapted for them. That dream became the conference, founded in 2018 at Agam School in Raanana.
Ofir Schonwetter-Lazar — founder of the conference and its professional and artistic director. A physical education teacher at Agam School, she holds a degree in physical education and rehabilitation and is a graduate of the folk-dance instructors' program, both from Wingate College, along with a master's degree in education. She personally guides and accompanies the program and its schools across the country.
Feature Video
See It for Yourself
The conference's feature film — highlights from the Maccabiah conference — alongside "My Israel," the first adapted dance Ofir created for the first conference in Israel's 70th anniversary year, danced every year since in the mass dance finale.
The Feature Film — Conference HighlightsThe National Dance Conference · Maccabiah 2025
"My Israel" DanceThe first adapted dance · danced every year in the mass finale
0
Participating Schools
across four regional branches
0
Active Branches
+ a fourth in June 2027
0
Districts Nationwide
Haifa · Center · Tel Aviv · Jerusalem · South
0+
Conference Participants
hundreds every year
About the Conference
Three Ways the Circle Opens a Door
Music, movement and dance are a universal language. Through it, every student — at every functioning level — can express themselves, experience success, and be part of a group.
A Circle That Holds Everyone
Wheelchairs and mobility aids become part of the choreography itself. Every student has support close by, and everyone has a place in the circle.
A Joyful Peak: The National Conference
Months of rehearsals culminate on one big stage — before a crowd, with flags and costumes, and a sense of pride that lasts long after the music stops.
Published in Machol Magazine · Issue 100, January 2019
"The First Dance Conference for Special Education"
"Bursting with freshness, dance and choreography talent, joy of life and optimism. More than 400 participants filled the hall."
New · Published in the academic journal "BiTnua" (In Motion) · Vol. 15(2), 2026
The Conference's First Academic Recognition
A quantitative study among the accompanying staff: 82% of respondents reported improvement in students' motor abilities, and 74% — gains in social skills.
By Efrat Weinberg, then-principal of Agam School, who initiated and led the writing of the paper · with thanks to the Physical Education Inspectorate for enabling distribution of the questionnaires to the school teams
What People Are Saying
From Teachers, From Parents, From the Heart
Ben Lavi, a student at Psifas School in Modi'in, took part and danced in the conference in Raanana — and shared, using an eye-gaze communication system, that it was "great!" 💙
"
"We performed at the dance conference yesterday — it was amazing, beautiful, moving, joyful! Every school that performed was incredible… Thank you to our champion students and to the parents who came to share the excitement with us."From a post by Shirat HaLev School · a participating school
"
"Wow, wow, wow! So moving! Your performance was amazing!"A student's mother commenting on the school's post
Spreading Our Wings
The Circle Reaches the Whole Country
What began as a single conference in Raanana became a national movement. Every branch opens because a principal decided to bring her school in — they are the engine of our growth.
Central Branch · Raanana
Agam School — the birthplace of the program. Current principal: Meital Cohen-Or; founding principal: Efrat Weinberg.
Active since 2018Southern Branch · Rishon LeZion
Tzlil School. Led by Moran Ahituv.
ActiveNorthern Branch · Hadera
Galim School. Led by Sharon Shefer.
ActiveSharon Branch · Hod HaSharon
Nitzanim School. Led by Tzruya Pnat-Nehari.
Opening June 2027
Questions Everyone Asks
What's Important to Know
Who is it for?
The program was originally built for special-education settings with lower functioning levels — students who can't take part in sports competitions. Over the years it opened up to everyone: every conference brings together a range of functioning levels, and that's exactly the beauty of it.
Why is photography allowed?
It's a condition of participation — visibility and pride. Every parent signs a photo-consent form, so we can photograph, share, and celebrate as much as possible. Here, no one blurs faces — we see our students.
What happens at the conference?
Each school performs its dance piece, tied to that year's theme, and then — a mass dance: circle upon circle dancing together the dances Ofir composed and taught.
Partners Along the Way
We Didn't Get Here Alone
Raanana Municipality
Physical Education Division, Ministry of Education
Special Education Division, Ministry of Education
Social-Values Education Division, Ministry of Education
Health Promotion Department, Ministry of Education
Invite Your School to Join the Circle
No cost, no complicated bureaucracy — just the will to give your students an experience of joy, belonging, and pride. We're here to walk with you every step of the way.