Community Dance Initiatives Dance Victoria

Integrated Dance Forum, All Abilities Dance Group, Colonial Reality Tour, Newcomers Dance Group,

50+ Dance Troupe

Joanne Cuffe: Community Dance Initiatives, Victoria: Visiting in the homelands of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, and the Esquimalt, Songhees, BOḰEĆEN/Pauquachin, Málexeł/Malahat, SȾÁUTW/Tsawout, W̱JOȽEȽP/Tsartlip and W̱SIḴEM/Tseycum Nations.

 In early 2020, Joanne Cuffe and the InterdepenDance Collective, led numerous activities for people of all physical and cognitive abilities, including an afternoon of integrated dance films to introduce the public to mixed-ability dance and dance from disability perspectives, and to offer an opportunity for dancers who experience disability to come together and experience the work of colleagues in other cities, a workshop titled Introduction to Inclusive Choreography, led by All Bodies Dance Project, and the Integrated Dance Forum, where dance artists shared ways for increasing access, equity and cross-disability leadership in the arts. The Forum offered introductory workshops by Harmanie Taylor and Naomi Brand from All Bodies Dance Project, a performance, and a panel discussion on access in dance. Thirty dancers, interpreters and community members came together for the forum, which was in partnership with Saanich Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

These events served to build connections among people involved in dance on the island and to encourage future collaborations, aiming to increase opportunities for every body to pursue dance and to widen the spectrum of who dances and what dance can be.

Integrated Dance Forum Quotes from Participants:

What did you like about the event? What did you learn? What was fun?
* Transformative for me, how deep connections were made through movement with a full range of bodies. I learned to look deeper and enjoy the creativity and spirit of every body.
* I learned how little I know about “disability.” My ignorance and prejudices began to dissolve; I am grateful for the patience of others, embodying and explaining our differences.
* The part Where we all listen and talking talking about the issues bring a person with a disability or LGBTQ Members of society
* As an international student I enjoyed Every bit of the workshop. It was new to me and I found it to be a very innovative approach.
* Many things including the importance of using interpretive dance to express oneself. I met some interesting people and as the day progressed felt quite connected when we danced. I began to relax and very much enjoyed trying to choreograph our various dances.

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