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The Value of Studying DanceDanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX.In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Jasmiina Sipilä, who works as a leading teacher in the dance department of Vocational College Live, where they offer the only professional dance degree in Finland for dancers with special needs. The professional degree in dance is aimed for students with special needs, which means these dance students need individual support, modifications, and extra guidance in their studies and working life. The definition of special needs is used in this interview as an umbrella term to mean students who are neurodivergent, have developmental disabilities, have mental health challenges, or have different bodies and motor functions. Jasmiina describes how, in the degree, the students focus on contemporary dance, cooperation, somatic skills, performing, choreographing, and inclusive dance theory, as well as curriculum in dance practice and theory. The students' degree has many applications after graduation, from dancing professionally to working in the community with different populations.This episode is part of a series interviewing institutions with inclusive dance programs and individuals who identify as disabled and have experienced formal dance education as either students or teachers. This series is part of Silva's ongoing work as the director of Art Spark Texas' dance program. This year, she is continuing the multi-year community-engaged research project, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, that explores disability-centered accessibility in dance education and how we can create barrier-free dance education for students with disabilities in the US.Jasmiina Sipilä is a dancer (BA Hons in Contemporary Dance, Trinity Laban, City University of London), a dance teacher (Master of Dance, University of the Arts, Helsinki), and a special education teacher (professional teacher training college, Haaga-Helia, Helsinki). She has worked widely for 18 years as a dancer, choreographer and teacher in Finland and Europe. Jasmiina loves exploring inclusive dance practice and its possibilities in improvisation and somatic work.
In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Rhona Coughlan, the artistic director of Inclusive Dance Cork in Cork, Ireland, along with project coordinator Dr. Kaylie Streit. Inclusive Dance Cork is a professional dance training program for people with and without disabilities who want to engage with contemporary inclusive dance. This program is based at Dance Cork Firkin Crane and is the only accredited program of its kind in the Republic of Ireland.Rhona shares her empowering entrance into dance via co-founding Ireland's first inclusive dance company, and Kaylie shares how her background as a music teacher led her to think about inclusive practices in the arts. Rhona describes the breadth of Inclusive Dance Cork's programming and how it is made possible through strong community partnerships, how the program design provides person-centered access, and how her ultimate goal is to never have a person go into a dance class and feel excluded ever again.This episode is part of a series interviewing institutions with inclusive dance programs and individuals who identify as disabled and have experienced formal dance education as either students or teachers. This series is part of Silva's ongoing work as the director of Art Spark Texas' dance program. This year, she is continuing the multi-year community-engaged research project, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, that explores disability-centered accessibility in dance education and how we can create barrier-free dance education for students with disabilities in the US.Inclusive Dance Cork is currently spearheaded by artistic director Rhona Coughlan, a dancer, advocate, and a full-time wheelchair user herself. She co-founded the first inclusive dance company in Ireland, Wheels in Motion, in 1994, and co-founded the second, Croí Glan, in 2006. Dr. Kaylie Streit is an educator, musician, and arts and culture researcher. Since recording this podcast, Kaylie has shared news she is leaving her role as project coordinator of Inclusive Dance Cork and has accepted the position of lead strings teacher at Cork City Music College. To learn more about Inclusive Dance Cork, visit dancecorkfirkincrane.ie/inclusive-dance-cork-idc.
Seeking Barrier-Free Dance EducationDanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX. In this episode of DanceCast, Silva Laukkanen is actually the interviewee. She is interviewed by co-worker April Sullivan and Art Spark Texas' executive director Celia Hughes. This episode is part of a series interviewing institutions with inclusive dance programs and individuals who identify as disabled and have experienced formal dance education as either students or teachers. This series is part of Silva's ongoing work as the director of Art Spark Texas' dance program and their multi-year community-engaged research project, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, that explores disability-centered accessibility in dance education and how we can create barrier-free dance education for students with disabilities in the US. Silva shares her dance history and how she was introduced to inclusive dance spaces as a young person, how the disability dance field is behind in terms of education, and how Art Spark Texas' research project is assessing what existing opportunities are out there and what more needs to be done. Silva Laukkanen is a passionate advocate for inclusive dance, aiming to broaden perceptions of who can dance and where dance happens. These questions led her to create DanceCast in 2016, a podcast spotlighting non-traditional dance artists, and to co-author Breadth of Bodies, Discussing Disability in Dance in 2022, a book featuring interviews with dance artists with disabilities globally. As Director of Integrated Dance at Art Spark Texas, Silva Laukkanen leads bi-annual intensives, performance projects, and monthly classes. In 2020, she co-founded Tractus Art with a colleague from South Africa. Together, they produce videos highlighting artists with disabilities and are working on a children's book about a dance company founder who is Deaf, set for publication later this year. Silva also collaborates with other inclusive dance companies, providing support in arts administration. Silva holds a BFA from North Karelia College and a postgraduate degree from Trinity Laban Conservatoire. A certified DanceAbility teacher since 2003, she has trained with choreographers and companies like Adam Benjamin, AXIS Dance Company, and Dancing Wheels. Currently, she is pursuing an MA in Dance: Participation, Community, Activism at the London Contemporary Dance School and serves as the board president of Kaaos Company, Finland's leading inclusive dance company.To learn more, www.artsparkdance.org.
I have been staying back in Finland since last December and I'm helping to produce an awesome festival, X Dance Festival, which is happening mostly online. In the coming episodes I will be featuring performances, panelists and teachers who are part of the festival. Here is the festival website, go check the awesome offerings out: http://danceabilityfinland.com/kaaos/festivals-2.htmlIn this episode I spoke with Maija Nurmio and Teemu Mäki about their collaborative work Éliane which is based on the French composer Éliane Radique. You can see Éliane live, for 10 people, or live streamed. Get your FREE tickets here: https://tinyurl.com/kz66pjemand you can find more information about each one of them, by clicking their name Éliane Radigue, Teemu Mäki and Maija Nurmio.
Here in Wisconsin we do more than moo, we're talking today with you and our crew. Congolese dance lived through and through, outdoors and in public it's hewn. With Sonya Rio-Glick conversation flew on a slew of news and thoughts including which pop usage of modern dance isn't true. Goodbye Rioult, but don't get too blue, here's something new, a kinetic light integrated performance for you. This is the second part of our dance as labor series and we're talking about what it means for dance to be accessible for ALL bodies with guest Sonya Rio-Glick Dance in the News: Kinetic Light performance info Article about Rioult dance closing You can learn more about the Financial work of Byb Chanel Bibene here and follow him @bybkongo and his company @kiandandadt on Instagram Learn more about Sonya Rio-Glick on her website and follow her in Instagram @notorious_srg Also check out Dance For All Bodies and try a class! And follow them on Insta too! @danceforallbodies 2 Truths and a Lie Links: This is America (article1, article2) Beyonce (Countdown, Apeshit) Taylor Swift (article, video)
Meredith Aleigha Wells is a queer and disabled actor, singer, dancer, and writer based in Chicago. They joined Nicole for our very first episode to discuss integrated dance, life with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), and more! Find Meredith online! Website: www.meredithaleighawells.com Instagram: @meredithaleighawells YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MeredithAleighaWells The Underdog Project Theatre on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnderdogProjectTheatre Follow us on Instagram and Twitter! @breakalegpod Episode Transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751649/8518552 Produced by Scott MacDonald Artwork by Sasha & Alexander Schwartz https://breakalegpod.buzzsprout.com/
Discussing Disability in Dance
Turning Setbacks into Comebacks
We recorded Episode 10 with our guest artist Sarah Blanc a couple of months back, when coronavirus was something we'd barely heard of here in London and before we had any idea of the impact it would have, not only around the world but on the industry we work in. In the last week a lot has changed; most of us in the dance industry have lost our work and everything feels quite uncertain. Still, as this podcast is a place for conversations about our industry and the paths we find through it, we hope you'll still find this conversation with Sarah relevant (and entertaining!) even if in a slightly different light. Enjoy the episode and let's keep talking and moving forward together. Sarah Blanc is a multi-award winning choreographer and performer. She creates solo work and is artistic director of Moxie Brawl, a fresh all female inclusive dance theatre company. Her choreographic work has toured extensively across the world and has been seen on artists and companies such as Complicite, Bryony Kimmings, Little Red Kettle along with commissions for large outreach projects led by Candoco Dance Company, R.A.D. Perth Concert Hall and Kings Cross. She is currently working with Dan Daw and Blink Dance Theatre and is excited to start a new family work based on Punk culture, collaborating with Brigitte Aphrodite and Quiet Boy. She is one third of AnnieVickySarah—a trio of collaborators who are questioning ‘inclusive’ dance practices within creative settings. Catch her on tour this year with her solo show My Feminist Boner.Rachel Elderkin is a freelance dancer and dance writer based in London. Her dance writing can be also be read in the Stage, londondance.com, Exeunt and British Theatre Guide. She is a member of the UK's Critics' Circle, and has previously written for publications including Fjord Review, the Skinny (Scotland) and LeftLion (Nottingham) where she was Art Editor.Credits:Host: Rachel ElderkinGuest: Sarah BlancEditing and production: George BushawayProduced for Fjord Review
Interview with Karen Daly; Being Seen as A Dancer
Interview with Roman Baca; Dancing the Veteran Experience
Interview with Karenne Koo: There's No Such Thing As "We Can't Do Something"
Interview with Michaela Knox: Expanding the Dance Community
Interview with Ginger Lane: “It Comes Down to Loving Movement”
Interview with Sally Davison; The Language of the Body is the Oldest Language.
Interview with Aaron Wheeler-Kay; Access is Good for Everybody
Dance Applied to Real Life; Interview with Margot Greenlee
Interview with Connie Vandarakis: Experiencing the Democracy of Dance
Interview with Jana Meszaros; Promoting Freedom and Equality
Interview with India Harville: Exploring Her Own Access and Excellence
Maylis was visiting me here in the US after dancing and studying with Axis Dance Co in their annual summer intensive. While we were finishing our lunch we chatted about her work and future plans. Maylis shared her visions for her next choreographies and where she is currently with her own work. Thank you Maylis for being so open and willing to share.
Choreography for An Arm and A Half; Interview with Julie Crothers.
Rethinking Assistive Technologies
In this episode I spoke with the founder of REvolutions dance Dwayne Scheuneman about his career in integrated dance.
In Between Dance and Musical Theater: interview with Meredith Aleigha Wells about her career in dance and musical theatre.
In this episode I spoke with Marisa about her career and the rocky road to it: Creating a More Inclusive World.
In this episode I speak with Adam McKinney about his work in the dance field.
Interview with Wagner Lucio Moreira
In this episode I speak with Maija Karhunen about her work and life as a dancer.
Interview with Violeta Fatas; Expanding The Borders of Dance In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Violeta Fatás, a dancer in Spain devoted to expanding integrative dance. Violeta shares her perspective on the integrative dance scene in Spain, how she became interested in access and disability, why dance – especially improvisation – is particularly suited for augmenting accessibility, and her work making dance performances accessible to sight-impaired audience members. Text by Emmaly Wiederholt
In this episode I spoke with my dear friend and colleague Tanya Winters about her career and our visit to Berlin, Germany where we took part in couple of integrated festivals.
In this episode I talk to Nancy Baine who has been a dance educator and creator for all for over 40 years.
In this episode I was talking to my good friend Julie about her work within the integrated dance scene as well as her time in Java.
''Oftentimes people think disability is inability, which it’s not.'' – Mary Verdi-Fletcher When was the last time you felt fully alive, free to express yourself fully and completely? In an effort to protect ourselves from harm or being exposed to what we aren’t comfortable with, we often will create mental barriers that can hold us back. What would life look like if we decided to knock those barriers down? What then would be possible? Today I’m talking with my inspirational friend Mary Verdi-Fletcher. She’s here to discuss how she’s using dance to educate and inspire the disabled and able bodied alike to believe our disabilities don’t define us. Mary Verdi-Fletcher is a true pioneer. She is America’s first professional wheelchair dancer and has taken a field where disabilities were not accepted and worked endlessly to shatter stereotypes, change attitudes, bring hope, advocate for inclusion, and essentially be an agent of change. Despite being born with spina bifida, Mari has worked tirelessly to open the doors of opportunity for people with disabilities who wanted to pursue their goals on an equal ground with their non-disabled peers. This determination ultimately led her to found The Dancing Wheels Company in 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, which was specifically formed to employ professionally trained dancers, with and without disabilities. The Dancing Wheels Company has reached audiences of over 5 million people with awe-inspiring school assembly programs, workshops, residencies, and main stage concert performances worldwide. If you’ve ever had moments of doubt or convinced yourself that you couldn't do something, I can promise this conversation will show you what’s possible when you believe in yourself. Here’s a Quick Breakdown of Our Chat… [10:30] Mary discusses her Dancing Wheels School and Company, its mission and how one encouraging phrase from her mother made it all possible. [16:25] Mary’s definition of dancing and how she uses this interpretation as inspiration to achieve any goal. [18:50] Learn how the lives of Mary’s able bodied students are positively affected due to their close interaction with their disabled dance partners. [21:05] The single biggest obstacle Mary would have to overcome in her early 20s and how that decision would open the door for everything to follow. [28:05] Listen as Mary recounts her favorite Dancing Wheels success stories and the one story which will bring a tear to your eye. [35:08] Learn Mary’s advice to live by and how she uses it to turn any obstacle into an opportunity. ''The arts are an avocation that chooses you. You don’t choose it.'' – Mary Verdi-Fletcher Enjoying the Show? For iTunes listeners, get automatic downloads and share the love by subscribing , rating & reviewing here! Links and Resources [SITE] DancingWheels.org [SITE] Dancing Wheels Company & School YouTube Channel [ORG] World Center for Integrated Dance and Art Access [EVENT] Front Row Foundation Summit [EVENT] Front Row Factor Dad’s Retreat Your Ratings and Reviews Matter! If you’re enjoying the show, let us know about it HERE o/
In this episode I spoke with Liv about her work in education and especially her artistic work around death.
In this episode I spoke to Sandra Paola who is a dancemaker, improviser and performance activist. Her work is characterized by the investigation of complex issues such as relationship, gender, race, identity, awareness, kinesthetic listening and perception, and it has taken her through the US, Colombia, Brazil, Cyprus, France, Canada and Mexico.
In this episode I talk to Hanna about his work in Palestine with at-risk youth as well as his professional dance company repertoire.
Stephan is the guru on site specific dance. He has been creating site-specific work since 1984.
Dale Andree talks about the how and why she decided to start organizing national water dances and creating collaborative site specific dances around the US and other mud related dance themes.
Third generation integrated dance maker and shaker, Mark Travis Rivera talks about his work as a choreographer, advocate and writer.
In this episode I discuss about the history and future of Keshet Dance Company with its founder and artistic director Shira Greenberg.
Judith and I talk about her work in Axis Dance Company and her 10 year plan about getting the integrated dance scene together in USA.
Talking about past, present and future of Marc's artistic endeavors.