Get Involved-Spotlight: Body Shift
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Body Shift: A Mixed-Ability Dance Intensive
October 22nd-24th in Austin, Texas
Presented by Forklift Danceworks and VSA Texas, Body Shift is Central Texas’ first-ever mixed-ability dance intensive, offering classes in contemporary dance accessible to people with and without disabilities.
Mission:Body Shift aims to create an environment that empowers people with and without disabilities to fully embrace dance as their own, and promote the idea that all kinds of bodies have a place in contemporary dance.
Weekend Intensive:Led by an outstanding group of local teachers, all who have experience working in mixed-ability settings, Body Shift will consist of 6 classes, including a closing community-wide dance on Sunday, October 24th.
Dancers of all levels are encouraged to attend. Participants can attend one class, or the entire intensive. Classes will take place at Galaxy Dance Studio and Ballet Austin.
Our partners: Forklift Danceworks and VSA Texas are co-presenting Body Shift, with support from Galaxy Dance Studios, Ballet Austin and The Austin Chronicle.
Body Shift is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts, and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
Be a part!
Participate:See a full weekend schedule and register via http://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/bodyshift.html.
Contact Lynn Johnson with VSA Texas at 512-454-9912 or 1-866-489-8412 to register over the phone.
Volunteer:Volunteers can provide valuable support before and during the weekend intensive.
Help needed includes:
- Pre-weekend help with general errands/office assistance.
- On-site registration assistanceTransportation help for attendees during the weekend.
- Assistance for participants during classes.
- Help with distributing meals and snacks during the weekend.
Contact Lynn Johnson at VSA Texas to volunteer: lynn@vsatx.org or 512-454-9912
Donate:Body Shift is only partially supported by participant fees, which are intentionally kept low and affordable.
- $10 will support the cost of one class for a participant
- $50 will pay for the entire weekend for a local artist
- $100 will underwrite studio rental fees for one class
To make a donation, visit http://www.forkliftdanceworks.org/donation.html or call Forklift Danceworks at 512-447-6405.
Why Body Shift?
Forklift Artistic Director Allison Orr began doing mixed-ability dance work as a result of making a dance with two men who were blind (and their guide dogs!) in 2003.
This dance was the beginning of a long-time collaboration between Forklift Danceworks and VSA Texas.
Having long followed the philosophy that all bodies move in beautiful and interesting ways, once Orr starting teaching integrated classes she began to see more clearly the need for inclusive and mixed-ability dance classes in Austin.
People with all kinds of bodies-both with disabilities and without-need a place to gather and move together. Body Shift can be just such a place.
“We hope that anyone who has ever wanted to dance but was afraid to try comes to Body Shift to experience the joy of movement,” says Celia Hughes, Executive Director, VSA Texas.
About Forklift Danceworks
Forklift Danceworks is an award-winning dance company that creates dances with all kinds of performers: from maintenance men to firefighters, Elvis impersonators to dog owners.
Forklift’s quirky, savvy style has garnered local and national attention.
For more information about Forklift Danceworks, visit www.forkliftdanceworks.org
About VSA Texas
VSA Texas, the state organization on arts and disability, is a 501©3 not-for-profit organization that works to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.
Our mission is to promote the creative power in people with disabilities by working with all community members to facilitate full access to the cultural and educational arts.
VSA Texas is a member of the international network of VSA, an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
To learn more about VSA Texas programs and services, visit our website: www.vsatx.org.
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