Medical Devices in the dance world
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
This presentation features research into the relationships between disability and dance education. I examine how, currently, people in wheelchairs are more accepted in dance settings than people who have other medical devices. More specifically, people who have medical devices on their bodies get turned away when they walk into a dance class. Using my own lived experiences and interviews with experts in adaptive dance education, I show that anyone can be a dancer and that the “standards” or “criteria” gatekeepers use to decide who can be a dancer need to be rethought and reorganized. Ultimately, this research shows that inclusiveness in the dance world is important, not only for disabled communities but also, and especially, for non-disabled people.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Kate Mattingly
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
Kmatting@odu.edu
College/School Affiliation
College of Arts & Letters
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Art/Creative Work
Medical Devices in the dance world
This presentation features research into the relationships between disability and dance education. I examine how, currently, people in wheelchairs are more accepted in dance settings than people who have other medical devices. More specifically, people who have medical devices on their bodies get turned away when they walk into a dance class. Using my own lived experiences and interviews with experts in adaptive dance education, I show that anyone can be a dancer and that the “standards” or “criteria” gatekeepers use to decide who can be a dancer need to be rethought and reorganized. Ultimately, this research shows that inclusiveness in the dance world is important, not only for disabled communities but also, and especially, for non-disabled people.