COMPANIES LIKE US

Ability Unlimited
Delhi INDIA
Email: secretary@abilityunlimited.com
www.abilityunlimited.com

Ability Unlimited is the first professional dance-theatre in India to educate and employ people with disabilities through training in innovative choreographic techniques and special therapeutic methodology. After the disabled artistes are fully trained, they are provided with a platform for public performances that integrate arts with career opportunities and training. This unique learning and performing experience elevates, enables and empowers these specially disadvantaged young people with the ability to go through life with equality and dignity. Most of these artistes differ in key respects such as their origin and age, as well as their social status and economic backgrounds.

Amici Dance Theatre Company
Wolfgang Stange
68 Barons Court Rd
London W14, England
Phone: 020 7385 1327
Fax: 020 7385 1327
Email: info@amicidance.org
amicidance.org

Amici Dance Theatre Company is a large professional company (20-30 members) which integrates performers with physical disabilities, learning difficulties, sensory impairments, and those who are able-bodied. It was founded in 1980 by Wolfgang Stange, who brings his German Expressionist dance roots to evening-length works that are produced and toured annually. The work centers around serious, often dark subjects and is crafted with an eye to dramatic and visual impact.

Asher Dance Eclectic
Elizabeth Edelson, President
info@madtheatre.com
madtheatre.com

Asher Dance Eclectic incorporates able-bodied and wheelchair dancers primarily through jazz and contemporary dance styles.

Anjali Dance Company
Nicole Thomson-Stewart, Director
Mill Cottage
Spiceball Park
Banbury
Oxfordshire OX16 8QE, England
Phone/fax: 01295 251 909
email: info@anjali.co.uk
anjali.co.uk

Anjali Dance Company is a professional-quality contemporary dance company. All Anjali's dancers have a learning disability. The company was established by Nicole Thomson-Stewart in 1995 as a follow-up to a series of integrated workshops. Anjali works with dance professionals such as renowned British choreographer Claire Russ. Anjali aims to challenge prejudice and preconception and to create a new dance aesthetic, demonstrating the creative potential of people with a learning disability.

Adam Benjamin / Dance Artist
Cornwall, ENGLAND
Phone: 01822 832 160
Email: adam@adambenjamin.co.uk
http://www.adambenjamin.co.uk

“My journey in dance oscillates between the vibrant uncertainty of improvisation in workshops and performance, and the crafting possible within set pieces choreographed for the stage. It is about freedom and choices, order and chaos, about respect and possibilities. It is about the integration of ideas, about finding our way, finding our place, finding ourselves”

Bethune Theatredance/Dance Outreach
Zina Bethune
Artistic Director
8033 W Sunset Blvd., #221
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: (323) 874-0481
Fax: (323) 851-2078
Email: zbethune@aol.com

Founded in 1979, Bethune Theatredance is a dance performance company that blends elements of dance, special effects, fine art, music and video to create a unique theatrical experience. Stories from film, TV, artworks and literature are adapted from the fusion of ballet and modern dance. Dance Outreach is a training and performance program in movement and dance for children with disabilities.

Bilderwerfer
Daniel Anschwanden
Albertgasse 23/4
1080 Wien (Vienna)
Austria
email: bilderwerfer@thing.at

In 1992 choreographer and performer Daniel Aschwanden started to work with Christian Polster, a dancer with Down's syndrome. The group now contains six members, three disabled and three able-bodied, and draws from "New Dance techniques," in particular Contact Improvisation. The work is also shaped through techniques which introduce elements of acting into the dance. The work is inspired by "the language of everyday bodies - in opposition to the dictate of the perfect body."

Blue Eyed Soul
Pimley Barns
Pimley Manor, Sundorne Road
Shrewsbury SY4 4SA
Phone: 01743 271900
Fax: 01743 271516

Blue Eyed Soul is the West Midlands leading inclusive community Dance Company and has enjoyed critical acclaim for performances throughout the UK. Blue Eyed Soul's training program includes company apprenticeships, performance projects and fortnightly open workshops.

Bill Shannon
964 Dean St.
Brooklyn, NY 11238
email: bshannon@virtualprovocateur.com
virtualprovocateur.com

Bill Shannon started in 1988 to present his unique work which has all the hall-marks of great street performance. With irreverence, physical comedy and his very own style of commotion (skateboard and custom made crutches), Shannon is captivating audiences with his unpredictability.

CandoCo Dance Company
Dawn Prentice
2L Leroy House
436 Essex Road
London, N1 3QP
England
Email: info@candoco.co.uk
www.candoco.co.uk

CandoCo began in 1991 as an effort to use dance as a truly integrated medium for disabled and non-disabled student. It is now a prominent and accomplished member in the British contemporary dance scene. Using a combination of Graham-based technique and Contact Improvisation, artistic directors Celeste Dandeker and Adam Benjamin have established a seven-member dance company which has won a number of prestigous awards for their performances as well as their video and film work.

CHAOS Dance MovementTheatre
Kat Worth
6 Crown St. Lismore
Byron Bay
Australia 2481
email: companychaos@osemail.com.au

CHAOS is a professional dance company dedicated to the integration of participants with and without disabilities. It is educational and provocative, providing a creative outlet for personal expression through dance, movement, and performance for a wide range of people. Members vary greatly in their abilities - physical, sensory and performance experience; and practicing professional artists.

Croi Glan Integrated Dance Company
Tara Brandel, Artistic Director
Cappaghglass, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Ireland
Phone: (216) 432-0306
Fax: (216) 432-0308
Email: tazbraz@onebox.com
www.croiglan.com

Croi Glan Integrated Dance Company is a new professional performing contemporary dance company based in Cork, which performs works in a dance theatre style using both disabled and able-bodied dancers. Croi Glan aims to promote the cutting edge artistic value of integrated dance by producing high calibre work which can tour nationally and internationally. Croi Glan also provides an educational program which promotes integrated dance to people with disabilities and able-bodied dancers through introductory workshops; ongoing classes; and vocational training in integrated dance.

Dancing Wheels
Mary Verdi-Fletcher
President/Founding Director
Professional Flair
3615 Euclid Ave 3rd Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 432-0306
Fax: (216) 432-0308
Email: proflair1@aol.com
www.gggreg.com/dancingwheels.htm

Founded in 1980 by Mary Verdi-Fletcher, Dancing Wheels developed a strong relationship with the Cleveland Ballet and in 1990, Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels was formed. In 1994, Sabatino Verlezza joined the company as co-artistic director and choreographer. Drawing largely upon May O'Donnell technique, his innovative choreography accentuates the abilities rather than limitations of the dancers.

Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre
Liverpool, England
E-mail: common.sign@dial.pipex.com

Common Ground Sign Dance Theatre is a company of deaf and hearing performers creating a performance style that is a fusion of expressive dance, sign-theatre, live original music, and most recently, Caribbean dance. Deaf artists, along with hearing counterparts, founded the company and are fundamentally influential in how the company's work is created and how it is operated.

DanceAbility/Joint Forces Dance Company
Alito Alessi
Founder/Artistic Director
P.O. Box 3686
Eugene, OR 97403
Phone: (541) 342-3273
Email: alito22@yahoo.com
www.danceability.com

Alito Alessi, artistic director of DanceAbility since 1979, has been involved with the evolution of the dance form Contact Improvisation for the past 20 years. His performance work includes collaborations with disabled dancer Emery Blackwell. DanceAbility International's mission is to encourage the evolution of mixed-abilities dance by cultivating a common ground for creative expression for all people regardless of abilities, economic status, age, or race. The mission is accomplished through performance, educational programs, teacher training and workshops. The work of DanceAbility International helps decrease prejudice and misconceptions about diversity in the field of dance, and by extension in society.

Dance Detour
Alana Wallace, Director
2941 South Michigan Ave, Ste. 413
Chicago, IL 60616
Phone: (312) 225-8824
Email: dancedetour@aol.com

Founded in 1995, Dance Detour grounds its work in the diversity of its dancers, celebrating their physical, ethnic, generational, cultural, and artistic differences. The work includes elements of many forms of dance (modern, ballet, ballroom, jazz, African, street dance, line dancing) alongside acting, singing, writing, and other media. Founder/artistic director Alana Smith was originally inspired to expand from her acting career when she saw a performance by Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels.

DIN A 13
Gerda König
Gereonshof 4
D-50670 Köln, Germany
theaterszene-koeln.de/din-a-13/info.htm

DIN A 13 is a Cologne-based company founded in 1995 as a collective of dancers and musicians. It originated from an earlier company named Mobiaki, which performed throughout Europe for some years. DIN A 13's work is based on improvisational techniques and has a strong commitment to the exploration of difficult emotional places, in that the accepted norms of aestheticism in society and the associated taboos are put into question.

Frontline Dance
Rachel Lines, Artistic Director
38, Lynn Ave.
Talke, Stoke-on-Trent
Staffordshire ST7 1PA
Phone: 07919 026 962
Email: frontlinedance@hotmail.com

FRONTLINE dance is an integrated dance company offering a program of performance, education and outreach work for people of all abilities. Their aim is to promote a shared experience of the art of dance through participation and performance. It is hoped by providing these opportunities they can increase awareness of what is possible and promote positive responses to disability and to dance. FRONTLINEdance have received critical acclaim up and down the country for it's energetic, inspiring and accessible dance performances and workshops.

Full Radius Dance
Douglas Scott, Artistic/Executive Director
PO Box 54453
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 724-9663
Email: dsdance@aol.com
fullradiusdance.org

E-motion and Dance Force merged in May of 1998 to form Full Radius Dance. E-motion was formed in 1995 out of a desire to share the talents of dancers with disabilities with the mainstream audience. The fact that some of the dancers use wheelchairs is secondary: the wheelchair may lend additional movement possibilities to the choreography, but it is not a focal point of the dance. The goal of this mixed-abilities company is to make the audience forget the wheelchair and focus on the dancers.

Green Candle Dance Company
Fergus Early
309 Aberdeen House
22 Highbury Grove
London N5 2EA, England
greencandledance.com

Green Candle Dance Company is concerned with bringing dance to all sections of the community, particularly those who have least access to it. It was founded in 1987 by Fergus Early, one of Great Britain's most accomplished dance artists and most effective dance activists. The company often features dancers with varying physical abilities, of different ages, or from different cultural backgrounds in its work. Early draws from a wide range of sources - various folk dance traditions, drama, music, as well as modern dance vocabularies - in an effort to render the works more accessible to a wider dance audience.

Infinity Dance Theater
Kitty Lunn
220 West 93rd Street, #6C
New York, NY 10025
infinitydance.com

Based in New York City, Infinity, under the leadership of executive director Kitty Lunn, is a non-traditional dance company committed to expanding the boundaries of dance and broadening the world's perception of what a dancer is. The company includes dancers with disability and dancers who are beyond the age of traditionally associated with being a dancer.

Inflight Dance Company
8622 Starcrest T-6
San Antonio, TX 78217
Phone: (210) 590-3457
Email: pauladgorman@earthlink.net
www.sadu.org/in-flight.htm

The primary focus of the Inflight Dance Co. is to demonstrate that a physical disability is not a barrier in the dance world. Dance for the disabled dancer is excellent because moving to music is therapeutic for the body and uplifting for the spirit. Movement set in choreography to be performed publicly offers a challenge, and challenge makes life interesting and fulfilling. Movement is healthy and dance challenges the human physical, mental and emotional capabilities. The company has performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, as the first dance company ever to have been invited there and at the international orthopedic surgeon conference in Dallas TX. As well as Museums, medical events, theaters, and at various universities throughout Texas to promote this new art form.

Karen Peterson & Dancers
11760 Southwest 72 Ave.
Miami, FL 33156
(305) 378-6626 phone
Email: kpdance@bellsouth.net
karenpetersondancers.org

Karen Peterson & Dancers is a ten year old Miami based modern dance company that promotes excellence in dance through its quality based performances and educational programs. The company's repertory is performed by both disabled and non disabled dancers and the company's mission is to promote the artistic integrity by crossing barriers outside of traditional dance arenas, to provide a strong outreach program by forging links with other artists and arts organizations and to find a unique voice through integration.

Kaz DanceHUMAN Theater
86 Northampton Rd.
Amherst, MA 01002
ellenkaz@hotmail.com
Phone: (413) 253-7559
Fax: (413) 230-0100

Kaz DanceHuman Theater offers ongoing workshops and master classes in physically integrated dance.

Light Motion
Charlene Curtiss and Joanne Petroff
1520 32nd Ave
Seattle WA 98144
206.328.0818
cacurtiss@msn.com
www.damonbrooks.com

Light Motion is a two-woman integrated dance company that is in a league of their own. Established in 1988, principle dancers, Charlene Curtiss and JoAnne Petroff join together to form an internationally acclaimed dance team which is refreshingly creative, exciting and physically demanding. Emphasizing "Front End Control", the duo uses the wheelchair as an expression of movement rather than just a vehicle for mobility. It is their purpose to integrate the chair into the movement of their choreography.

Limits Dance Company
Bertoldi, Andra Lcia Srio
Av. Silva Jardim 4348
Seminrio Curitiba
Zip: 80.240-021
Pr Brazil

This 12-member company, which was created in 1992, is working under the direction of dance teacher and choreographer Andrea Serio. They practice dance based on the theories of Rudolf von Laban, and participated in research studying the results of their artistic work with disabled people in dance. Limits performed at Brazil's prestigious "Joinville Dance Festival."

Paradox Dance
Bruce Curtis
2100 8th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 898-1698
Email: brucecurtis@attbi.com

Bruce Curtis is an activist, dance teacher and performer who uses a wheelchair. He has been teaching and performing Contact Improvisation since 1990 in integrated workshops all around the world. Paradox Dance explores the mind/body relationship, special movement, architecture, time and the perception of the audience.

Restless Dance Company's
240 Franklin Street
Adelaide, 5000 South Australia
Email: info@restlessdance.org
restlessdance.org

Restless Dance Company is a leading Australian Youth Dance Company whose work is inspired by Cultures of Disability. Their mission is the ensure that the direction and development of the company is informed by a balance of artistic growth and quality community involvement.

Rhythms of Hope Dance Company
Marianne B. Talbot
National Rehabilitation & Rediscovery Foundation, Inc.(NRRF)
2556 Virginia Avenue, N.W. Suite160
Washington, D.C.20037
email: NRRFboots@aol.com

This 14 member company was established in January of 1997. Its first major event was held November, 1997 at the Center for the Arts Concert Hall at George Mason University in Northern Virginia. It was co-sponsored by the Center for the Arts. The dance company is under the direction of the NRRF. Company members range in age from 12-55. All dancers in the company have neurologic disabilities.

Roxey Ballet
243 North Union Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530
Phone: 609.397.7616
Fax: 609.397.6889
info@roxeyballet.org
roxeyballet.org

The Roxey Ballets mission is to deliver artistic and cultural excellence. It is an all-inclusive organization, fostering a creative environment of growth for artists of all levels. Its unique and diverse works, taking traditions to the next level, strive to inspire audiences and artists alike. Their Matheny School arts access program in Peapack, NJ serves over 75-100 disabled artists each week.

Spitzer Dance Company
Alex Spitzer
5481 Hege Brooke Pointe
Acworth, GA 30101
email: sdc@spitzerdancecompany.org
spitzerdancecompany.org

Alex Spitzer formed his dance company in 1992. He holds the distinction of being perhaps the only wheelchair-user to gain a degree in dance from a US college. Preferring that his company be simply regarded as a mainstream dance company, Spitzer is the only one of his eleven dancers to have a disability. He creates works utilizing and adapting classical and modern dance vocabulary. His work as a choreographer and performer has been presented in Georgia, Ohio, and across Texas.

Seize the Day
Patty Krauss, Executive/Artistic Director
P.O. Box 26
Mt. Rainier, MD 20712
Phone: (301) 927-2311
Email: pkseize@aol.com

Seize the Day is a contemporary dance theater company comprised of artists with and without physical disabilities. Their arts education program includes children and adults with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities. The company teaches and performs in the DC Metro region and is available for year round performances/workshops nationally and internationally.

StopGap
Vicki Balaam, Director
PO Box 2
Woking Surrey GU22 9BF
England
Phone: 01784 741740
Email: vicki@stopgap.uk.com
stopgap.uk.com

Stop GAP works hard to raise the profile of integrated dance within the community, providing dance opportunities for people who would not easily find access to dance. One of their primary objectives is to contribute to the debate of valuing individuals for their skills and abilities and challenge the participants and spectators preconceptions. Their experienced workshop leaders have taught dance to a broad cross section of the community.

Sun Dance
524 Farragut Parkway
Hastings-on-the-Hudson, NY 10706
(914) 478-3070

Sun Dance is a modern dance ensemble company consisting of performers with various physical challenges. It was established in the Spring by wheelchair dancer/athlete Jackie Delorenzo. Combining visually, hearing and physically impaired dancers, this company provides innovative technical and artistic interpretations of musical theater.

Theater of Inclusion
Rebecca Hutton
4433 N. Pennsylvania St.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46205
Phone: (317) 809-6262
Email: TOinclusion@aol.com

As a community of artists and citizens theater of inclusion makes authentic movement-based performance works through the use of a collaborative, creative process designed to include everybody.

Tokounou Dance Company
137 First Avenue #7
New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 533-9764
Email: tokounou@mindspring.com
tokounou.home.mindspring.com

Sidiki Conde is a dancer, drummer and singer from Guinea, West Africa. Sidiki lost the use of his legs at the age of 14 but this did not stop him from his dream of becoming a dancer. Sidiki has performed with the premier dance and music ensembles in Africa. He came to America in 1998 and formed Tokounou, whose music and dances chronicle Sidiki's unique journey as an artist and celebrate the traditional arts of Guinea. Dance and music in Africa are community events where everyone participates and no one is excluded. Tokounou offer performances as well as mixed ability workshops in which participants will learn to sing and play African rhythms on djembe drums and other instruments, as well as traditional dances.

Touch Compass Dance Trust
Catherine Chappell, Artist Director/Manager
PO Box 90136
Auckland Mail Center
New Zealand
Phone: 64 9 376 5885
Fax: 64 9 376 5843
Email: info@touchcompass.org.nz
touchcompass.org.nz

Touch Compass is a pick-up dance company established in 1992 as Catherine Chappell & Dancers. The Company works on a project-to-project basis. In 1995, the focus for the Company moved into the area of mixed ability dance. The 1997 Touch Compass performance season was the first theatrical season of mixed ability dance in New Zealand. Their performances include theater and aerial work.

Touchdown Dance
Waterside Arts Centre
Sale
M33 7ZF
0161 912 5760
www.touchdowndance.co.uk
touchdd@aol.com, info@touchdowndance.co.uk

Touchdown Dance, based in Manchester, works locally, regionally, nationally and internationally within communities and professional dance. Our renowned workshop provision has taken us to Poland, Germany, Australia, and the USA to involve people with a visual impairment in dance or to provide training for professionals.

Wheelpower
Contact: Dr.Boni Boswell
ECU School of Health and Human Performance
Email: hpboswel@ecuvm.cis.ecu.edu

This new dance troupe was formed by seven students of East Carolina University in the fall of 1996 as part of the campus Recreational Services ARISE program. Most recently, WheelPower performed at the annual "Total Commitment" conference in Greensboro.

OTHER RESOURCE SITES

Disability Arts International
World Wide Arts Resources