Founded in 1987, California-based AXIS Dance Company has long been at the forefront of redefining dance and disability. Through world-class productions that challenge perceptions, AXIS quickly established itself as one of the first contemporary dance companies to integrate disabled and non-disabled dancers. AXIS has since toured extensively, performing in over 100 cities across the US, Europe, the UAE, and Russia, while also earning nine prestigious Isadora Duncan Dance Awards.
Current Artistic Director, Nadia Adame, began her international career as a disabled artist with AXIS in 2001 and has now returned to lead the company.
1. Changes in the perception of disabled artists, both as a personal perception and a social perception.
As a professional dancer, it's common to meet people from various countries, each bringing their own cultural backgrounds and histories into an already dynamic workplace. However, one experience that is less familiar, even for the most internationally exposed dancers, is sharing the stage with less-abled bodies. For many, this can be an unfamiliar and even jarring experience, highlighting the importance of perception and the care needed when navigating such spaces.
At the core of AXIS Dance Company's philosophy is a commitment to *Engagement*. Through this principle, AXIS provides inclusive programming and events for people of all ages and abilities. It also serves as a pre-professional training ground for aspiring disabled dancers and choreographers. These educational initiatives range from youth classes to adult workshops and teacher training programs, all designed to foster outreach and consolidate their tight-knit community.
One of their most significant outreach initiatives is AXIS for ALL — a free, on-demand virtual series of workshops designed to support disabled individuals and their communities through creativity, embodiment, and well-being. These workshops feature guided movement, dance, and meditation, and include seated/wheelchair-based instruction led by AXIS Company Artists. Importantly, all videos are closed-captioned to ensure accessibility for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
While education is a long-term process, the quest to shape and transform perceptions must begin early for the betterment of the dance world. AXIS Dance Company’s work is not just about changing how we perceive disability in dance, but about creating an environment where inclusivity and accessibility are foundational to the future of the art form.
2. Disability as an empowering characteristic of movement and the human condition.
Although I do not identify as disabled, my ACL injury brought me closer to understanding the emotional, psychological, and physical challenges that many face. A full year on, the nuanced experiences of dancing through and managing pain have shaped me into not only a stronger performer but also a more empathetic advocate for inclusivity in the arts. Disability, turns out, is as empowering a characteristic of movement and the human condition as anything.
Nadia was 14 when a car accident left her with a spinal cord injury, requiring her to walk with a cane. In a striking parallel, her predecessor, Judith Smith, also became disabled following a car accident at age 17. Formerly an equestrian champion, Judith transferred her passion for riding to dance after discovering contact improvisation in 1983. Three years later, she co-founded AXIS and grew the company into one of the world’s leading physically integrated dance ensembles.
Nadia, much like Judith, has not allowed her setback to impede her career. She has consistently sought opportunities to work in the performing arts and challenge societal notions of diversity and inclusion. Through her leadership, AXIS continues to push the boundaries of what dance can represent. A core pillar of the company, *Artistry*, drives this forward-thinking approach. AXIS collaborates with high-profile choreographers and innovative dance makers to create significant and impactful works, building bridges between contemporary dance, integrated dance, and disability culture.
3. Politics in dance education for disabled artists.
Before passing the reins to Marc Brew in 2017, an acclaimed disabled international choreographer and dancer, Judith Smith helped establish one of the most comprehensive integrated dance education and outreach programs at AXIS Dance Company. Today, Judith continues her advocacy work as an independent consultant for dance and disability equity. Nadia on the other hand, maximizes her other passion as an actress and screenwriter to tell unknown or unfamiliar stories through TV or film.
But more historically, dance education has focused on able-bodied performers, leaving disabled dancers marginalized. Inclusive training not only requires modifying the physical aspects of dance but also revising teaching methods and curricula to support a wide range of abilities. Challenges such as funding and geographic access limit opportunities for disabled dancers. Despite an increase in dance program enrollment globally, disability inclusion remains a significant gap. Resources for inclusive dance education are often scarce, especially in rural areas.
Hence, Advocacy groups like AXIS and Candoco are leading efforts to address these shortcomings by offering educational programs and pushing for policy reforms in dance institutions. While progress has been made, ongoing advocacy is essential to ensure disabled artists receive equal access to education, training, and opportunities in the dance world.
Check out the full episode here
06.01.2025
