Dancecast

Building Integrated Dance in Denmark

DanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX.

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Janne Weidinger Kristensen, the Artistic Director of The Association of Integrated Dance in Denmark, or Foreningen for integreret moderne dans I Danmark (FIDM). FIDM is in the process of tra...

The Link Between Dance and Health

DanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX.

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Joseph Jeffers, the CEO of Advice

Support Knowledge Information (ASKI), a London-based non-profit organization dedicated to serving older individuals from the Global Majority. He reflects o...

Embedded in Community Dance

DanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX.

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Bronwen Wilson Rashad, a UK-based dance artist who has worked within several different communities. Bronwen shares how she was part of Julie Liebel's group which had the goal of accommodating her artistic...

Rhythms of Resilience – A Story of Dance and Determination is an uplifting tale about a young boy from the Eastern Cape who discovers his passion for dance in new and unexpected ways.

In a family where rhythm and joy are a part of everyday life, Tumi grows up surrounded by music and movement. When he loses his hearing, Tumi learns to connect with music in a new way—through vibrations. With the support of his family and a...

Welcome to Nature in Motion, a project funded by European Union that explores how movement and nature come together to create a more inclusive, accessible, and enriching experience for all.

Nature has the power to heal, strengthen, and restore. Whether through hiking, adaptive sports, or dance, movement in natural spaces can improve well-being and foster connection. Nature in Motion is about expanding access—adapting both mov...

Welcome to Nature in Motion, a project funded by European Union that explores how movement and nature come together to create a more inclusive, accessible, and enriching experience for all.

Nature has the power to heal, strengthen, and restore. Whether through hiking, adaptive sports, or dance, movement in natural spaces can improve well-being and foster connection. Nature in Motion is about expanding access—adapting both mov...

Welcome to Nature in Motion, a project funded by European Union that explores how movement and nature come together to create a more inclusive, accessible, and enriching experience for all.

Nature has the power to heal, strengthen, and restore. Whether through hiking, adaptive sports, or dance, movement in natural spaces can improve well-being and foster connection. Nature in Motion is about expanding access—adapting both mov...

Welcome to Nature in Motion, a project funded by European Union that explores how movement and nature come together to create a more inclusive, accessible, and enriching experience for all.

Nature has the power to heal, strengthen, and restore. Whether through hiking, adaptive sports, or dance, movement in natural spaces can improve well-being and foster connection. Nature in Motion is about expanding access—adapting both mov...

Welcome to Nature in Motion, a project funded by European Union that explores how movement and nature come together to create a more inclusive, accessible, and enriching experience for all.

Nature has the power to heal, strengthen, and restore. Whether through hiking, adaptive sports, or dance, movement in natural spaces can improve well-being and foster connection. Nature in Motion is about expanding access—adapting both mov...

Disability Belongs in Dance

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Melissa van Wijk, founder and director of Born Dancing, a nonprofit based in New York City that creates performances featuring dancers with and without disabilities, orchestrates dance education opportunities for children with disabilities, and supports the entry of people with disabilities into the dance field. She shares how one day on a train in Manha...

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Gladys Agulhas, a multi-award-winning independent dance artist, choreographer and dance facilitator who has pioneered inclusive dance practices in South Africa. Gladys shares her early love of dance and social work during apartheid and how an introduction to Adam Benjamin's " Table stories" created for Candoco Dance Company changed her trajectory. She describes how she learned fro...

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews dance artist Elisabeth Motley, a New York City-based choreographer, scholar, and teacher whose work is concerned with disability as a framework for creative practice. Elisabeth describes how her journey began in rigorous normative dance practice and how she came to disability by way of a recurring brain disease that impacts her physical and cognitive abilities. Her pedagogy revolv...

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews disabled dance artist and researcher Kate Marsh. Based in the UK, Kate shares her perspective as an assistant professor at Coventry University. She reflects on how the discourse on disability has evolved during her career, from breaking literal barriers to breaking attitudinal barriers, and yet how today’s dance education landscape is experiencing economic cuts. She discusse...

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews dance artist Devin Hill. Devin describes their experience growing up with a rare eye condition and how it affected their motor skills. Their mother put them in dance to help with balance and coordination. Devin shares their experience pursuing dance in college and learning to be an advocate for themself as a dancer with a disability by communicating their needs. They share how cha...

The Value of Studying Dance

DanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX.

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Jasmiina Sipilä, who works as a leading teacher in the dance department of Vocational College Live, where they offer the only professional dance degree in Finland for dancers with special needs. The ...

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Rhona Coughlan, the artistic director of Inclusive Dance Cork in Cork, Ireland, along with project coordinator Dr. Kaylie Streit. Inclusive Dance Cork is a professional dance training program for people with and without disabilities who want to engage with contemporary inclusive dance. This program is based at Dance Cork Firkin Crane and is the only accredited program of its kind ...

Seeking Barrier-Free Dance Education

DanceCast is a podcast that spotlights non-traditional dance artists. It is produced by Silva Laukkanen, an advocate for inclusive dance based in Austin, TX. In this episode of DanceCast, Silva Laukkanen is actually the interviewee. She is interviewed by co-worker April Sullivan and Art Spark Texas’ executive director Celia Hughes. This episode is part of a series interviewing institutions ...

Breadth of Bodies: Discussing Disability in Dance seeks to investigate stereotypes often used to describe professional dancers with disabilities. Spearheaded by Emmaly Wiederholt and Silva Laukkanen with illustrations by visual artist Liz Brent-Maldonado, the team interviewed 35 professional dance artists with disabilities around the country and world, asking about training, access, and press, as well as looking at the state of the...

Breadth of Bodies: Discussing Disability in Dance seeks to investigate stereotypes often used to describe professional dancers with disabilities. Spearheaded by Emmaly Wiederholt and Silva Laukkanen with illustrations by visual artist Liz Brent-Maldonado, the team interviewed 35 professional dance artists with disabilities around the country and world, asking about training, access, and press, as well as looking at the state of the...