A group of boys flutter around a dance studio on every Saturday morning, taking turns to mimic each other’s moves.

But unlike other dance classes, students are not learning the styles of jazz, hip hop or ballet; they are autistic children or children with learning disabilities who are learning how to control their mind and body through dance.

Julia Boyd, with the help of family and friends, started a program called “Dragonflies,” which is a dance and drama program for children with autism and special needs.

With classes at capacity and an age range of 4 to 29 years old, Boyd said she has 20 families traveling up to two hours both ways to participate in the Dragonflies dance class.

“September 10, 2011, was our first class. People from all over the area came to help. We assessed the kids and then started dancing,” Boyd said. “We were at two classes, now we’re at four, and we’re looking to expand.”

Boyd said she also wants to have summer camps.

The program started to come together when Boyd thought of the name Dragonflies, Boyd said.

“What I love about dragonflies is that they can go up and down and side to side. They’re dynamic,” Boyd said. “Dragonflies are ancient creatures, and they’re very curious. (Dragonflies) go through a growth process.”

Boyd said the growth process fits with her program, using her 13-year-old autistic son, Jacob as an example.

“Jacob doesn’t dance with control,” Boyd said. “If I can teach (Jacob) to harness that in, then that’s the whole concept.”

Boyd said the program, which takes place at the Dance Life Studio in Charleston every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, is based on three words: “Move, Fly, Soar.”

“Just like in life, you move through some things, then you fly, and then you soar,” Boyd said. “When you soar, you relax into it (controlling of the body) and you learn how to be yourself.”

Avery Drake can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].