Nadia Adame (left) and JanpiStar (right). Photo by Nick Flagg.

Inclusive Rules: Teachers Can Learn about Integrated Dance
By Camryn Eaglin

Inclusivity. A word that many have discussed probably more than they’ve practiced. How are dance educators actively creating an inclusive and accessible environment in their classrooms? Inclusivity doesn’t stop at race, gender, or sexuality but must also include disabilities. AXIS Dance Company, a San Francisco Bay Area based company, is offering a virtual summer intensive that includes a teacher training program. It is focused on an integrated teaching method that effectively includes both disabled and non-disabled dancers together.

For over 35 years, AXIS has held a necessary space in the dance world as their company collaborates with both disabled and non-disabled dancers. Their mission “challenges perceptions of dance and disability.” AXIS summer intensives have gained a buzz by offering a personalized experience for each participant. The intensive is virtual again this year, which aids in its accessibility. The intensive spans from July 27th to July 29th and from August 1st to August 2nd. The first three days are broken up into three modules: Improvisation, Choreography & Performance, and Teacher Training for Dancers, Professionals, and Educators. Participants can sign up for all three modules or choose which modules best suit their needs.

The teacher training focuses on an integrated dance teaching method. Nadia Adame, Artistic Director of AXIS Dance, describes this method as, “Including everybody with focus on disabled and non-disabled people in the classroom.” She discusses the non-inclusive tendencies dance culture has when it comes to language. “Teachers often say ‘with our legs we extend forward,’ but what if I’m paralyzed or in a wheelchair, or what if I don’t have legs and I’m an amputee? I would feel excluded because they're telling me to move my legs.” Adame says language is a way you can easily include or exclude someone. Adjusting our language as educators expands the possibilities for all students. Instead, Adame examples that teachers can say, “Use your lower limbs or your upper limbs. Or, stretch your torso one way or the other.” This way students can investigate this movement based on their own unique bodies.

In this module, there is movement in discussion. “We think people learn more by doing and experiencing themselves in their body and the people who are around.” Adame says. Open dialogue is welcome and a realistic approach to inclusive teaching is explored. AXIS instructors will share their expertise on integrated dance and discuss body specificity – working with varying bodies, ensuring everyone is challenged. At the end of the program, participants are offered a teachers’ network to continue to support one another.

For the intensive, AXIS offers many accessibility options for participants virtually. For each class, there will be a disabled instructor and a non-disabled instructor to exemplify how movement can be translated to different bodies. They also offer auto captions and ASL interpreters. Dancers can specifically request needs on their application. Adame says it’s important these tools are available. “What we try to do is not put a little band-aid on the top and just think about it later. No, we are trying to make it a part of the process so it’s more natural and integrated.”

Teachers can learn to incorporate an integrated teaching method in their own classrooms through this program. It costs $375 for the 5-day intensive or $80 per day. Applications for the summer intensive are now open until June 24th. In the application you can identify if you are participating for the full-week or if you are only doing drop-in’s. Any and everyone is encouraged to participate. Get more information and apply for the intensive here: https://axisdance.org/engagement/summer-intensive/ 

Camryn Eaglin is a professional dancer, freelance writer, dance teacher, and creative. Eaglin recently graduated summa cum laude from Wayne State University in Detroit, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Dance with a minor in Broadcast Journalism.

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