Photo by Andrea Basile. AXIS Dance Company began when a group of dancers with and without physical disabilities came together to explore dance. As noted in its vision statement, the long-time National Endowment for the Arts grantee aims to “create a radically inclusive dance sector and world by removing barriers and showcasing the beauty of difference.” After graduating California State University, Los Angeles with a B.A in Theatre Arts & Dance, she moved to NYC where she became a scholarship student at the Broadway Dance Center. Photo by David DeSilva This is accomplished by creating and performing contemporary dance that is developed through the collaboration of dancers … Standing dancers balance on one foot and extend their other leg as they move. AXIS Dance Company exists to change the face of dance and disability through three pillars of activity: Artistry, Engagement, and Advocacy. Judith Smith, the co-founder and director of AXIS Dance Company, a trailblazing Oakland performing arts organization that works with disabled dancers, announced her retirement Wednesday.She is 57 years old. We collaborated with him several times, always with wonderful results. Participating choreographers were selected through a competitive proposal and review process. The two founded Axis soon after in 1987, creating a dance that the company performed a year later at a festival. Contact improvisation has a huge place in the history of physically-integrated dance. Now, the nation’s most acclaimed physically-integrated dance ensemble comes to Colorado Springs with an evening of repertory that highlights the breadth of their artistry. Dancers Sebastian Grubb, Janet Das and Rodney Bell. Smith co-founded AXIS Dance in 1987, a decade after a car wreck left the former accomplished horse-rider disabled at the age of 17. Through the artistry of dancers both with and without disabilities, the piece explored what it means to be human. AXIS Dance Company is comprised of disabled and non-disabled dancers working together to challenge misconceptions about the art form. The dancers all wear masks and practice social distance by dancing in separate areas of a grid marked by blue tape.] The words ring out in a cavernous dance rehearsal studio at Oakland’s Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts. AXIS Dance Company’s Light Shelter choreographed by David Dorfman. in•ter•twine Promo from AXIS Dance Company on YouTube.. Fun Facts:. This first piece premiered in 1988, receiving a standing ovation. AXIS Dance Company In its 31st year, AXIS is the leading U.S.-based physically integrated dance company. At Axis Dance, you can find training in just about any style of dance, as well as acrobatics and aerial arts. Within their company bio they state, “AXIS Dance Company exists to change the face of dance and disability”. AXIS Dance Company is based in Oakland, California and has been changing the way the world thinks of dance since 1992. The dancers all wear masks and practice social distance by dancing in separate areas of a grid marked by blue tape.] Remy was an amazing person, choreographer, poet, artist, and writer. by Danae Rees [Video Description: The AXIS Company Dancers experiment with movement improvisations in a large dance studio with a black marley floor and black walls. Jacqueline Bal. AXIS is saddened to hear of the passing of dance icon Remy Charlip. At The Axis Centre for Dance, we believe that the dancer comes first. AXIS Dance Company, one of the world’s most acclaimed and innovative ensembles of performers with and without disabilities, will change the way you think about dance and the possibilities of the human body forever. AXIS Dance Company to Perform September 16, 2015. by Danae Rees [Video Description: The AXIS Company Dancers experiment with movement improvisations in a large dance studio with a black marley floor and black walls. Photo by Andrea Basile. The AXIS Dance Company dancers perform “Petrichor– the smell of earth after rain” by Jennifer Archibald. AXIS possesses both disabled and non-disabled dancers, which was incredible to watch. Join internationally acclaimed AXIS Dance Company for an intense, fun and explorative movement adventure in dance theatre and disability where all people interested in movement are welcome to join us. The dancers wear silver, flowing costumes and lean forward together in a line with outstretched hands. Jacqueline is a dance educator/choreographer/producer with over 30 years of experience. Sonsheree Giles and Rodney Bell, dancers part of the Axis Dance Company, perform “To Color Me Different” choreographed by Alex Keltley at the SFMoma on Friday March 18, 2011. Rehearsal Director Sonsherée Giles and company dancer DeMarco Sleeper will hold a virtual master class hosted by the Harvard Dance … Founded in 1987, AXIS has become a jewel of contemporary dance and disability culture. AXIS Dance Company is a professional physically integrated contemporary dance company and dance education organization founded in 1987 and based in Oakland, California.It is one of the first contemporary dance companies in the world to consciously develop choreography that integrates dancers with and without physical disabilities.Their work has received nine Isadora Duncan Dance … Since 1987, AXIS Dance Company has created an exciting body of work developed by dancers with and without disabilities. Sasha Tivetsky / staff photographer Posted on March 20, 2011 | … Continue reading → …show more content… The first piece to be performed was DIX MINUTES PLUS TARD. AXIS began in 1987 when founding Artistic Director Thais Mazur had the great idea and creative vision to gather a group of dancers with and without disabilities to explore dance and create a performance piece. Led since 1997 by pioneering former Artistic Director, Judith Smith, it is now under the direction of Marc Brew. This innovative yet traditional event promises to be a combination of fun, professionalism and passion. Located in Oakland, California, AXIS has been accomplishing this for over 30 years through three pillars of activity: Artistry, Engagement & Advocacy. Describe how AXIS Dance utilizes contact improvisation in creating work. Teachers, studio owners, dancers and parents shared what they want in a dance competition, and AXIS is here to deliver! Though AXIS has been around for more than 20 years, it’s still rare to see this kind of work. ''We look at the possibilities. After that, offers to perform and create kept coming. The University of Redlands will present a performance of AXIS Dance Company to mark the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Companies such as Axis or the British Candoco Dance Company have bolstered their reputations by commissioning international choreographers to create works for their dancers… AXIS Dance Company was founded in 1987 and has paved the way for a powerful contemporary dance form called physically integrated dance, which features dancers with and without disabilities. AXIS Dance Company is within the scope of WikiProject Disability.For more information, visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion. AXIS Dance Company, comprised of dancers with and without disabilities (physically-integrated), focused on movement and choreographic exploration with four choreographers who had not previously been commissioned by AXIS. ''We don't look at being disabled as an obstacle or a limitation,'' said Judith Smith, 49, a company founder who dances in a motorized chair. Michael Maloney/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Dancers Rodney Bell, left and Sonsheree Giles rehearse "Vessel" which will have its world premiere during Axis Dance Company… AXIS Dance Company is one of the world’s leading and most innovative ensembles of dancers with and without disabilities. AXIS Dance Company Dancers Judith Smith & Janet Das. Welcome to AXIS Dance Competition where Linda Diamonds years of experience bring you the vitality of a new beginning. AXIS Dance Company is one of the world’s leading and most innovative ensembles of dancers with and without disabilities. Paving the way for physically integrated dance, AXIS shares its cutting edge artistic and education/outreach work with thousands annually all over the world. This is a rehearsal for AXIS Dance Company, a pioneer in a dance form it calls “physically integrated dance,” which uses both disabled and non-disabled dancers. Founded in 1987, AXIS is the nation's most acclaimed ensembles of disabled and non-disabled performers. Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale AXIS Dance Company has received seven Isadora Duncan Dance Awards and has appeared twice on FOX TV’s So You Think You Can Dance. The company has … The nation’s most highly acclaimed physicallyintegrated dance company, AXIS performed “Radical Impact” at the ENT Center for the Performing Arts in February. AXIS Dance Company exists to change the face of dance and disability. The company will perform for the first time in Colorado Springs on Saturday at Ent Center for the Arts. It is through training that young dancers learn the value of hard work and incremental success. Published November 5, 2019 . We are open 6 days a week and offer group and private lessons. AXIS Dance Company. That is, Axis is not trying to give disabled dancers access to a so-called “normal” dance company; the company experiments with new shapes and ways of moving, creating a dance vocabulary that would be less rich without them. The evening will also include shorter works from REVolutions Dance and Karen Peterson and Dancers. We use the sport and art of dance to instill our core values of training, talent, tenacity, and teamwork so that our dancers can grow as athletes, artists, and human beings. ; Part of Axis Dance Company’s mission is to create opportunities locally and abroad for people with disabilities to engage in dance by championing access, inclusion and equity for people … Founded in 1987, AXIS Dance Company is an Oakland, California-based physically integrated dance company whose ensemble comprises disabled and non-disabled performers. 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