“Entre Nous”… Evolving relationships in dance by Maylis

Maylis (middle) during AXIS Summer Intensive "informance"

I discovered that dance was my real passion during this summer intensive at Axis. I also pushed myself a lot during that week to experience a new form of expression of my body and soul.

I never thought that it would have happened to me… I loved the feeling of creating a relationship between my body (with its strengths and limits) and my soul (always full of thoughts, ideas and unexpressed emotions). I really wanted to keep dancing and working on this relationship…

“Live your life to the fullest” Lean

As I pursue exploring how my body works and moves for six months, it’s time for me to go back in time and think about what I had been experimenting during my contemporary dance classes at the university.

First contact

In September, I contacted this teacher and told her about my summer experience and my willing of pursuing this quest of knowing myself. And two weeks later, there I was, in this huge space, filled with new faces, a bunch of younger students sat down on the floor, listening to me and looking at me with their big round eyes as I was telling them about my intensive dance week in Oakland… :O (haha). Well, I’m laughing now but then, I was thinking that it was going to be a total new thing for me. It would be nothing like what I experienced with Axis, where everyone was there to share a great dancing experience with different kind of able bodies. And god knows that I’m nervous when it comes to NEW things happening in my life… PANIC!!!!!!  But I was there, and climbed 35 steps to reach the dance studio (thank you France!), so the least I could do was try!

“But dance showed you new things can be a great thing” Courtney

And I danced, not like others students did, but I danced!! And the first feedbacks from my teacher were so positive that I couldn’t stop smiling and being proud of what I did. I’m so grateful for meeting this woman! She accepted me as I am, with no judgments and even if she’s not teaching an integrated dance class per se, she’s trying her best to make me feel comfortable and still pushes me to explore more and more possibilities. I feel really connected to her when it comes to the vision of dance and I think that’s why I keep enjoying this class more and more.

 “Dance Everything!” Rodney

Me, Myself and I

“– It’s weird, it’s like I’m free
-That’s what dance is Maylis! I feel like that when I dance too” Justine

So far, I learned from each class new things about what I was able to do or not yet (my positive side is speaking ). If I’m focusing on my relationship with myself, I can’t say that I didn’t feel any change. If at the beginning, I was a little shy and hesitant about my dance moves, I really worked on that. As I’m a functional mover, due to my cerebral palsy, I was sometimes frustrated because I couldn’t do the phrases as fast as the others and some movements were difficult to me. But the more I was exploring, the more I thought that I was creating my own ways of moving… Who cares if I can’t follow the same tempo, if I still express the same idea? I’m trying to use this in other fields of my life. Huge step forward! Isn’t it ironic for a wheelchair dancer? Haha

“Put your best foot forward” Alex F

Space and elements

My relationship with space and elements is also evolving. At the beginning, I was kind of stuck in my wheelchair, still trying to figure out how to move with it. So far, it’s my only regret about my dancing experience… It is still pretty hard for me to move and dance with the wheelchair and not just in it. But I’m working on it… with my teacher’s coordination exercises and balance exercises, which I adapt to my own needs and possibilities. But surprisingly, I discovered that I love dancing on the floor, which gives me another way to explore in addition to my wheelchair. When we are alone on the floor, we are asked to connect with the energy of the ground and I love the feeling of my arms, my back, my face and my legs touching this element… when I close my eyes, I really connect with my entire body moving in the same time. For example, when my teacher asked me to make an arch the other day, I had this awesome feeling when I was imagining my body stretching in my head. It really helped me doing it for real (not as good as it was in my head), finding my balance on the side touching the floor. I could feel it from my fingers to my toes and my teacher came to help me a little with my legs and told me that it was beautiful. Weirdly, I could feel that it was beautiful even though I didn’t see myself… it was a great sensation.

Partnering

Maylis partnering during the Summer Intensive

The hardest part still remaining is partnering with other dancers. Most of the students of the class started dancing in September… I think they are all figuring out what’s happening in their own body and mind like I do. When we are dancing all together, it is fine considering that the connection between us is mostly built on eye contacts and “hands to bodies” contacts. But when it comes to duets, the awkwardness begins. I can feel that my several duet partners don’t really know how to move with me… well, I can’t blame them since I don’t really know how to move with them either!  Sometimes I wish that we would be a little more adventurous in our propositions. There are sometimes afraid to touch my body and especially my legs even if they know that they can and that it won’t hurt me. It’s hard for me to force the contact, it could be aggressive and inappropriate…
Six months ago, at Axis Contact jam, I barely could stand the fact of touching heads with other dancers because the proximity and this kind of intimacy was too much for me to handle… I guess that it takes time to be comfortable with it!  However, I had great moments too in which I felt a nice connection and trust with partners. And this is so much truer when we are dancing on the floor. My body and theirs move differently and I guess that, for the moment, it opens more possibilities of partnering…

“Then you needed that reminder to connect to people.” Jonathan.

To conclude, dancing made me a totally different woman as I was before. I feel different about myself, others, about what I can do, express or explore. I think that I can project a different kind of image of myself by dancing, with this artistic side of mine which I totally avoided so far… My body image is evolving… I am now sure that I can create something beautiful even if I’m disabled and dancing with my upper body. Beautiful is about showing what is inside of me… no matter how…
I can’t wait to perform with my class in front of an audience, and show that art is in everyone’s heart…

“Exactly, that makes special, for sure a better person. That makes you special…” Carolina

to be continued… Maylis

By GRAHAMMB
Have you ever pulled into a parking lot, found a space inconveniently far from your destination and fumed as a seemingly healthy individual bounded out of a handicap-tagged car only feet from the door? Have you sneered from the curb: What’s his disability?
Well, I have. And although a common response might be to wonder if the individual is sufficiently disabled to warrant the privilege, the truth is more complicated.

What we often overlook is that not all disabilities are visible or immediately identifiable. That’s one challenge for JMU’s Office of Disability Services, which works to make sure every student with disabilities has a full and rich educational experience. read more

I’m also continually impressed by this weather. i know that is kind of mundane to say. It really isn’t mundane when you are are used to Boston winters, which include 12 foot snow banks, fistfights over shoveled out parking spaces, and a 4pm sunset. Boise winters are not as severe and are really beautiful, but i feel like I’m getting way with something by being here and escaping the winter.

I’ve been traveling quite a bit since September- Northern France, Boston, Boise, and now Oakland. After the show, i have one more roadtrip to do – back to Boise to Boise to get my stuff and my dog- and then I’ll be moving back to stay.

- Lisa

By Miguel Angel Estefan Jr

Q: Ten years into the company’s existence, what inspired you to start commissioning work from other choreographers?

A: “We were getting stagnant,”  says Smith, who started to educate herself on the work of others and began seeing dance performances and chose choreographers whose work “would meld well with the company.” Creators like Bill T. Jones, Molissa Fenley, Joe Goode, David Dorfman, Victoria Marks, to name just a few, are creators who in their own work pushed the boundaries of dance and performance art in general. As a result of these commissions, the company increased its artistic quality, found new inspiration, and enhanced their movement vocabulary. “All who have come in to it got something out of the process….It was a little bit scary but it added validity to what we were doing with better work and new movement. And the dance community took note.”

Photo by Richard Finkelstein. AXIS Dancers Alice Sheppard, Sonsheree Giles, Sebastian Grubb, and Juliana Monin in "Full of Words" by Marc Brew

How were these commissioned choreographers immersed or introduced to the company of physically integrated dancers?

Choreographers came in and found themselves working with dancers, some of whom used crutches, canes, prosthetics, wheel chairs, and motorized chairs. After 10 years of commissioned work, the process to integrate choreographers evolved into two-day workshops to explore movement and then two or three weeks of making work, taking a break, and then coming back to revisit and cement the final collaboration. Smith also remarked when Bill T. came in early on that he admitted he was intimidated; in those early days he was doing The Breathing Show in the evening and working with Axis during the day. His was a rushed process.

Speaking of Bill T., I am reminded of his company’s tour of Still/Here and Arlene Croce, dance critic for the New York Times, who refused to review the piece. 

“I remember that very well. That was right before Bill came in and he said We cannot fail. Because of who you are and who I am, we cannot fail.”

With your company now into its third decade – do you still find artists or critics who will not see your company’s work or argue, “This isn’t really dance?”

Smith recollected a story of a critic who would not see them for years. For their 15th anniversary, Oakland-based Axis Dance shared the stage with Victoria Marks at the Yerba Buena Center and the critic had come to see Marks. Apparently having his preconceptions challenged, he has gone to all their local performances since then.  “Sometimes he likes it and sometimes he doesn’t. But not everyone likes contemporary dance.” And physically integrated dance is something you “have to see it to believe it.  We try to get them in but it’s a slow process [to] show them it’s not what you think it would be and a stretch to get people to see us.”

I saw the excerpt of Rodney Bell and Sonsheree Giles on So You Think You Can Dance.  Some of the press material out there exclaims this is proof “you’ve arrived!”

“It was a weird experience. After 23 years busting our butts and then after a three-minute dance there is this huge buzz. We were in the Wall Street Journal; our Facebook page blew up. TV is so powerful. The actual work was a difficult experience, three minutes of work, cameras, editing, screaming teenagers…but what an incredible opportunity….people are wondering who is Axis Dance.”

Sebastian Grubb, choreographer of The Narrowing, said that in his piece themes arose about the specific role of physical disability in a performance. What then is the specific role of physical disability in dance? 

“Well, I would have to let Sebastian speak to his own statement, but in general we do not hide disability – we don’t for example camouflage chairs. And we give credit to able dancers as much as disabled dancers. What we are trying to do is showcase everyone’s virtuosity.”

Do you think it is unavoidable for physically integrated dance to always make a social or political statement?

“Social/political is implicit to what we are doing.  It has been an interesting line for us to travel. Early on we worked to specifically address disability. Since ’97 we worked without addressing the disability specifically and let the audiences take from it what they could.”

I read that you choose dancers by audition, scout for dancers, or meet people in your workshops. How much of an athletic or movement background is required?

“The non-disabled dancers come with backgrounds with extensive movement discipline. Some disabled dancers had a dance background before their disability and found their way back to dance. But most came from other backgrounds like myself who was an equestrian.  But stage presence is what we are really looking for.”

Do you think there is a sense of empowerment for disabled dancers being part of this company?

“Yes, but for all dancers and audience members. We want to empower everybody and change their minds about what they can do. You can see something you wouldn’t expect someone to be able to do and it opens your mind for the possibility of what you can do.”  And at the very core Axis dance is a “contemporary repertory dance company doing physically integrated work.”

Are you looking forward to your return to Miami?

“We love Miami – Bill Doolin and Mary Luft [of Florida dance Association and Tigertail respectively] have been a great support.  This is our fifth time coming. danaceAble is so committed and the only program of its kind offering a week long residency. And Mary has embraced us with her continued commitment to residency work.”

The residency includes “jam-packed” workshops and a return of David Dorfman’s piece Light Shelter, with a major community component of nine or ten local dancers performing. The first time the company ever did such collaboration with local artists was in Miami, and audiences will have the pleasure of seeing the original cast return for the special event.

As Education Director one of my jobs is to schedule and organize different education and outreach activities when the company goes on tour. Together with the people that bring us to their theater we brainstorm ideas of activities and communities we can reach out to. Often all my work gets done before the dancers leave on tour and I’ll hear later how things went. But once in a while I get the chance to go on tour with the dancers and meet the people in person I’ve been talking to on the phone and over email for so long.

Last Wednesday I joined the company in Harrisonburg, Virginia just in time to part take in the assembly we performed at Spring Stone Elementary. It was so fun to do our assembly program, which we normally do in the Bay Area, at a school 2,800 miles away from home.

The students were so excited to see a company from all the way from California! Here is a short video I took yesterday. If you listen closely you can hear the “wow’s” and “aaahs” from the audience.

We had such a blast and the feeling was mutual. This morning the principal sent me a short email:

“It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday and it was truly amazing seeing the AXIS dancers perform at our school. Everyone I have spoken with has raved about the performance and our students were mesmerized with the innovative dancing they observed. What a great experience this was for our school..thank you, thank you, thank you!”

I’m proud of our team and proud of the work AXIS does! Tonight we will be performing for a sold-out house. We will let you know how it goes.

Annika

Dancers gathering in the hotel lobby before heading out to teach

We are having a blast here in chilly virginia, where the southern hospitality is in full effect. From the staff at the hotel to the liason we are working with in the JMU dance department to the countless dance students and other new friends in between, we feel very cared for and looked after here in Harrisonburg.

This Saturday will be my first time performing David Dorfman’s Light Shelter. We are including the community component to the dance here, and I couldn’t be happier to have my light shelter debut with such a sweet group of women to be supporting us throughout the dance. Wish me luck with my first time ever singing on stage!!

Juliana

Yesterday AXIS performed our assembly performance at a school in San Francisco in celebration of 2011 Inclusive Schools Week. This morning I received an email from the mother who arranged our performance at the school:

“Thank you guys so much for a truly awesome assembly.  The students were glowing and raving, the parents, staff and teachers were thrilled.  I could say more, but have a look at my blog post for the rest!  :)   My best, Catherine”

Here is her great post. Thanks Catherine for bringing us to your schools. Without parents like yourself we couldn’t do the things we do.

“Whooooooooa!” “Wow!” “Cool!” {…and inclusive!}.

AXIS dancers Juliana & Bonnie during AXIS Assembly (c) Catherine Dauer

Being at AXIS the last few months has been such a treat! (and has gone by way too fast…) I don’t know how many times I’ve said how refreshing it’s been to be around people that are so passionate about what they do.  I feel like being around that energy has given me a clearer sense of direction in my personal pursuits. I will miss it. I’ve learned so much and am very grateful to have gotten to know some pretty awesome people. I feel like I’m leaving AXIS with more skills AND more friends.  AXIS is made up of genuine and generous people, great teachers, exquisite performers, and an amazing community and volunteer base. I’m so glad to have been a part of that.

But AXIS hasn’t seen the last of me! I’ll be volunteering next week at Dance Access Day on December 6th. And of course there’s all the classes and workshops… 

I will keep in touch, AXIS. This is just a temporary farewell.

Video of AXIS on ABC 7 Chicago

November 17, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) — This weekend, a world renowned integrated dance company will be performing at the Auditorium Theatre. It features performers with and without disabilities.

Axis Dance Company started in 1987 in the San Francisco Bay area. It has paved the way for a powerful contemporary dance form referred to as “physically integrated” dance.

Axis Dance Company has challenged traditional dances with dancers with physical disabilities around the world.

Last week, a panel discussion called “From Aspiration to Artist” was held at Chicago’s Access Living. The panel included dancers with physical disabilities, representatives from dance companies and experts in the field of disability and the arts.

Elizabeth Millman is managing director of Joffrey Ballet-Academy of Dance.

“I think physically integrated dance is a really phenomenal new dimension of the dance world,” Millman said.

For many years, Joffrey Ballet has included dancers with disabilities in their holiday production of “The Nutcracker.”

“It’s really a wonderful opportunity for the Joffrey Ballet to really make a statement about the importance of inclusivity and physically integrated dance as an important part of the field,” said Millman.

Alana Wallace is founder and artistic director of Dance Detour, a Chicago physically integrated dance company.

“I love the fact that there are no real rules for integrated dance,” Wallace said, “and we just play and move with each other, and each time we partner we learn something different depending on the varying ability of the dancers we’re working with.”

For integrated dance student Jessica Martin, being able to be part of a group is important.

“Because it lets me have my own freedom out of your wheelchair, and it’s very important because it helps you see that there are possibilities other than being in your wheelchair,” Martin said.

“I think they’re so successful because they found a winning formal. They got Judy Smith the artistic director, who is just brilliant and has a wonderful vision about integrated dance,” said Wallace.

Two spectacular performances of the Axis Dance Company will be at the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University Saturday, November 19, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 20, at 2 p.m.

For more information, including tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com/auditorium or www.axisdance.org.

(Copyright ©2011 WLS-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Hi!

My name is Mike Murillo, and I’m one of the event coordinators at Variety, the Children’s Charity of Illinois. Variety is really excited to be one of the sponsors for the AXIS Dance Company’s performance at the Auditorium Theatre on November 19th and 20th.

Variety’s mission is to provide funding and services for programs that strive to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life for children who are mentally and physically challenged, abused, sick, homeless or underprivileged. Our “Kids on the Go” program is dedicated to helping children with disabilities participate in some of the same activities as their able-bodied friends, such as bike riding, sports and dance. I enjoy seeing young people with disabilities just as active as anyone else!

As a recent addition to the Variety team, I was not educated on physically integrated dance, but after attending the AXIS panel discussion last Wednesday, at Access Living, I was really moved and gained a huge an appreciation for the art form. What I learned was that physically integrated dance is about the beauty of the human form and appreciating the movement of each individual. The individuals performing are interested in being seen for how their art inspires people’s perceptions of the opportunities the human body can create, regardless of physical ability.

I am inspired by the philosophy and mindset that physically integrated dance hopes to shift the way that society looks at disability. Whereas traditionally a lot of society sees physically disabled individuals as more helpless and less capable than able-bodied people, physically integrated dance is an avenue to the possibility that we as humans are all capable of amazingly creative and technical ability. I really believe that physically integrated dance, and activities like it, can begin to shift the society’s perspective of what being disabled is, from a medical view to a more social view, including looking at physical handicaps through the lens of social barriers, attitudes towards disability, and possibilities to better integrate individuals into society, which is also a goal of Variety of Illinois.

Finally, I’m really excited to see the AXIS Dance Company perform. They are one of the premier integrated dance companies in the US and it is going to be an honor to see and support them at the Auditorium Theater. I really hope that you join me in seeing the performance!

If you would like to continue the dialog, please “like” Variety on Facebook at www.facebook.com/varietyofillinois.