Dance and Disability
“Every Body Dance Now”
Access and Inclusion in the Field of Dance
My research revolves around the dancing body with and without disability. A currently non-disabled performer, I grew up in a household with a disabled mother and sister. This research is both personal and universal. I engage the field by taking a robust approach to inclusion and access in the field of dance. I ask about the history and impact of the disabled body onstage and make connections with the field of disability studies. I ask about education, both the availability of dance classes for peoples with disabilities as well as best practices for diverse classrooms. As a licensed Special Education teacher, I consider the field of education and the importance of access to the arts for students with disabilities in our public schools. I create and choreograph on movers with and without disability. And finally, I look at presenting organizations and the ways we engage and include communities with disabilities through the services we provide. I am seeking expansion in the field of dance on and off the stage.
Scholarship
Invited Talks
“Choreographing Access: The Choreography and Performance of Audience Accessibility at a Dance Concert” Paper given at PCA/ACA: Washington DC. April 20, 2019.
Photo by Shane Aurousseau.
Christine sits on the floor, in profile. She is looking across the space. Around her are various other dancers in wheelchairs.
“Open Borders: The United Kingdom, Inclusive Dance, and the Absent Gatekeepers” IPCCR Research Grant Report: College Park, MD (streamed internationally) . April 11, 2019.
“Accessibility and Our Community at the Clarice” Research presented to the staff at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center: College Park, MD. April, 2019.
“Through the Door: Access and Inclusion in the World of Dance” GradTerps Exchange at the University of Maryland. September 12, 2018.
“Making Inclusive Dance Spaces: Why Disability Dance Artistry Matters In Our Community” Going Dutch Festival Talk presented by Side Street Studio Arts. May 26, 2018.
"Innovations in Inclusivity" TDPS Wednesdays Series at the University of Maryland. November 15, 2017.
"A Spectrum of Abilities: Expanding Diversity Potential Onstage Through Mixed Ability Dance" Making Interventions Symposium at University of Maryland. October 13, 2017.
“A Spectrum of Abilities: Expanding Disability Potential Onstage” ACDA Mid-Atlantic North Conference at University of Maryland. March 10, 2017
"Masculine Men and the Search for Other Options: Masculinity Performance on the Western Stage” University of Iowa Craft Critique Culture Conference. April 14, 2007.
Arts Administration
Accessibility Focus
Fall MFA Dance Thesis at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, College Park, MD 2018
Choreographer and Administrative Support. The show featured Audio Description, ASL interpretation, and a Touch Tour
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, College Park, MD 2018-2019
Graduate Assistant in Community Engagement: focus on access and inclusion
Mark Morris Dance Center, Brooklyn, NY 2018
Intern: Dance for Parkinson’s and Education Dept. with a focus on inclusion
Instruction and Teacher Trainings
Photo by Roberto Martinez.
Christine and Melissa make the sign for “snail” at one another onstage. They both wear yellow. Melissa is in a power chair and Christine is seated in a folding chair.
Dance for Parkinson’s, New York, New York. Instructing, assisting, and volunteering in classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease. 2018-Current.
Co-Teaching Momenta Dance’s “Everybody Can Dance” virtual workshop as a guest artist. 2021.
Everybody Dance Now! (Inclusive Virtual Class) offered through the Going Dutch Festival, 2020.
Creative Movement Classes for Disabled Participants, Indepen-Dance, Glasgow, UK. Instructing a movement class for peoples with disabilities and their caretakers. 2019.
“Including Students With Disabilities Into a Traditional Dance Class” Faculty development at Kinetics Dance Theater: Ellicott City, MD. May 19, 2019.
Creative Movement Classes for Disabled Participants, Seaspar Eagles, Darien, IL. Instructing a dance class to day program participants with intellectual and physical disabilities. 2019.
University of Maryland DANC200 (Introductory dance course) course designed with specific lens focusing on access and inclusion in the field of dance. 2019
Mixed Ability Movement Classes, Towson University and The Gordon Center, MD. Lead workshops for dancers with and without disabilities. 2018
“A Spectrum of Abilities: Expanding Disability Potential Through Dance” Baltimore Country Public Schools Workshop Day. September 21, 2017.
Choreography
A Duet with Melissa
A choreographic work made in collaboration between Christine and Melissa Hands. The piece is about their relationship as sisters, but doesn't shy away from the fact that Christine and Melissa, in spite of sharing most of the same DNA, have incredibly different challenges as movers.
You can view the full work here
Duet Series
A series of choreographic works made in collaboration by Christine and Melissa Hands. Melissa’s intellectual and physical disabilities are the catalyst for choreographic invention, not a limitation.
You can view the full works here
Dance Film in Progress
Another joint project with Christine and Melissa Hands, this dance film is seeking to find the choreographic voice of two dancing sisters.
Christine Hands is available for educational presentations on dance and disability, as well as mixed ability/ inclusive workshops and classes. Contact me!