Part of the Teaching Artists Present collection.
In this video, experience a sample of the Dancing Wheels Company & School’s training methods in physically integrated dance, a method that allows those with and without disabilities to learn and perform dance together. Learning physically integrated dance focuses on translation, the way we make movements between “stand-up” and “sit-down dancers.” Join professional dancers Mary Verdi-Fletcher and Sara Lawrence-Sucato as they demonstrate how to do a brush, a turn, and a jump, offering instruction for a dancer who uses a wheelchair and a dancer who is standing.
If dance is an expression of the human spirit, then it is best expressed by people of all abilities. That is the fundamental belief behind the Dancing Wheels Company & School. Considered one of the premier arts and disabilities organizations in the U.S., Dancing Wheels is a professional, physically integrated dance company uniting the talents of dancers both with and without disabilities. To learn more, visit the Dancing Wheels website: https://dancingwheels.org/.
In this video:
Mary Verdi-Fletcher (she/her), the first professional wheelchair dancer in the U.S., founded the Dancing Wheels Company in Cleveland in 1980. Born with spina bifida, Mary wanted to offer others with disabilities full and equal access into the world of dance. An almost unimaginable concept at the time, Mary’s vision and passion have since helped to revolutionize our very notion of dance – as well as what defines a dancer.
Sara Lawrence-Sucato (she/her) is the Dancing Wheels Company & School's Director of Outreach & Community Engagement. In this capacity, she teaches physically integrated dance techniques in residencies, workshops, and masterclasses. Sara has danced professionally with Mary in the company for 16 years. She also serves as Rehearsal Director and School Administrator.
