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Dancing
Dance is a recreational or competitive activity that can be enjoyed by able bodied individuals as well as individuals with disabilities. Dance involves creativity and expression while promoting movement, flexibility and endurance. Below is a brief summary of several dance companies for individuals with disabilities. For a more complete listing, search the NCPAD database using keyword: dance.
AXIS DANCE COMPANY
AXIS promotes a change in how people view disability, people with disabilities and dance.
AXIS presents a wide variety of lecture demonstrations, workshops, teacher training intensives and residency activities locally and nationally.
Several resources are available on the AXIS Web site including: lists of dance companies, papers and articles, and videos for individuals with disabilities.
For more information, contact AXIS Dance Company.
DANCING WHEELS
Dancing Wheels is a dance company comprised of dancers with and without disabilities.
Regularly scheduled classes are available for dancers of all abilities.
Classes include: Modern Dance, Creative Movement and Repertory for professionals in addition to Creative Movement, Modern Dance and Ballet for children, teens and adults.
For more information, contact Dancing Wheels.
DANCE FOR THE DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED
The Gallaudet Dance Company is a performing group of approximately 15 dancers.
The Gallaudet Dance Company Web site is a great resource which has information on techniques for deaf dancers and available videos.
Deaf or hearing impaired dancers rely on their vision as their primary mode of communication. Their dance includes a range of styles, including dance that uses American Sign Language as its foundation.
For more information, contact Gallaudet Dance Company - Department of Physical Education and Recreation at Gallaudet University.
BASIC RULES OF WHEELCHAIR DANCE SPORT
A dance couple must be comprised of a male and a female partner, one of which must be a wheelchair user with at least a minimal disability that makes walking impossible.
Participants with disabilities in the lower part of their body such as amputation, paralysis, cerebral palsy, and leg shortening (at least 7 cm.) are eligible for competition.
Participants are expected to have normal upper body function.
There are two functional classes based on ability to maneuver a wheelchair, trunk rotation, and arm function.
In all rounds of International Wheelchair Dance Sport Competitions, the music is played for a minimum of one and a half minutes duration for Waltz, Tango, Slow Foxtrot, Quickstep, Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba and Paso doble. The time for the Viennese Waltz and Jive is one minute. In the qualifying rounds the same music must be played for different heats.
International Wheelchair Dance Sport Competitions are comprised of at least two qualifying rounds to allow couples the opportunity of dancing twice. The numbers of rounds is determined by the numbers of participants.
At least 50% of participating couples are recalled to the next round excluding the final.
Winners are selected by a panel of judges from varying countries.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
(Additional information may be available in the NCPAD Database. Try searching using keywords: dance and dancing)
Axis Dance Company, (510)287-5792
Bethune Theatredance/Dance Outreach
Zina Bethune
8033 W Sunset Blvd., Ste. 221
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(213)874-0481
DanceAbility, (541)342-3273
Dancing Wheels, (216)432-0306
Full Radius Company
Gallaudet Dance Company
Department of Physical Education and Recreation Gallaudet University-Field House
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
International Paralympic Committee
Dr. Gertrude Krombholz, Chairperson
Phone: (49)-89-157 3601
Fax: (49)-89-157 3503
Light Motion, (206)328-0818
1520 32nd Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144
United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association, (800)447-9047
United States Dancesport Council, (612)926-7648
Source: NCPAD
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