Following Curiosity

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Veera Suvalo Grimberg, the artistic director of Danskompaniet Spinn in Gothenburg, Sweden. Veera describes her path from her native Finland to building a life in Sweden, where she experienced disability for the first time through teaching in a local cultural school. After seeing Candoco Dance Company perform, she became interested not only in teaching students with disabilities but also creating an inclusive performance group in Sweden, which led to the creation of Danskompaniet Spinn. Over the past 15 years, Danskompaniet Spinn has become a force of inclusive dance in Sweden, with a fulltime company, an accessible space, a commissioning program, and a training program for the dancers. Veera describes how curiosity is a guiding principle of the company.

Veera Suvalo Grimberg is the artistic director of Danskompaniet Spinn, as well as a curious choreographer with an interest in forklifts, excavators, and dancing firefighters. She is a self-willed artist of Finnish origin who wants to challenge stereotypes of what dance is and can be. Veera trained as a dancer at the Performing Arts School in Gothenburg and has also studied dance pedagogy. Danskompaniet Spinn is an inclusive dance company based in Gothenburg, Sweden. For the past 15 years, Spinn has been collaborating with guest choreographers and creating work for children and adults. Audio descriptions, tactile objects, and visual supports are some of the methods Spinn is developing for performances and workshops.

To learn more, visit danskompanietspinn.se/en.

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 transitioning from an association to a company, and alongside that change, Janne is hoping to focus more on creative work than administrative work. Janne reflects on how FIDM has struggled to reach members of the community with disabilities because society doesn’t value people with disabilities as artists. Along those lines, FIDM produces a festival in Denmark focused on artists with disabilities, which Janne is hoping to expand in the future.

Janne Weidinger Kristensen is a cultural entrepreneur who has worked in integrated contemporary dance in Denmark since 2013. She is the Artistic Director of The Association of Integrated Dance in Denmark / Foreningen for integreret moderne dans I Danmark (FIMD). Janne was educated in the UK at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Prior to this she was an elite gymnast from the age of five. She also works as a body/movement therapist and coach, educated in the Bowen-technique, L.E.P., Body Analysis and Change Catalyst Programme, and in Heartfulness Training by Dr. Stephano Sabetti. Alongside her work with FIMD, she is a board member in Brancherådet for scenekunst I Danmark (the counsel for performing arts in Denmark), an association that works for better rights for dancers in Denmark.

To learn more about FIMD, visit www.integrateddance.dk.

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 on his training and career in dance, and how that led him to working in the non-profit sector. When he started ASKI, he integrated many kinds of dance classes into its programming. He’s committed to spreading a message of health and wellness by creating an atmosphere where people feel comfortable seeking preventative care and asking for support. He also shares some of his findings from his Winston Churchill Fellowship where he went to South Africa to research the link between dance and health. He’s particularly interested in how institutionalized racism impacts Black bodies.

Joseph Jeffers is the Chief Executive Officer of Advice Support Knowledge Information (ASKI), a London-based non-profit organization dedicated to serving older individuals from the Global Majority. ASKI provides a comprehensive range of services aimed at enhancing the well-being and social engagement of its clients. In 2024, ASKI was awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service.

Joseph's journey began with a passion for dance, which he pursued from childhood through to a formal degree in Dance in 1985. His professional career as a dancer took him to more than 65 countries, enriching his understanding of cultural expressions and movement. Recognizing the transformative power of dance, ASKI incorporates dance into its programs to combat social isolation among older adults, currently serving more than 85 individuals aged 68 to 90 on a weekly basis.

In addition to his role at ASKI, Joseph has been awarded a prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship. This opportunity has taken him to South Africa, where he explored innovative approaches to movement and social connection. Later this year, he will complete the Fellowship in the Caribbean, focusing on the relationship between movement and isolation in older bodies.

Joseph is in the final year of an MA in Dance: Participation, Communities, and Activism from The London Contemporary Dance School, further solidifying his commitment to using dance as a tool for community engagement and social change. His multifaceted experience and dedication to improving the lives of older individuals exemplifies his leadership in the non-profit sector.

https://www.aski.org.uk

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 practice while parenting, and how it eventually led her to work with a perinatal mental health team running creative sessions for babies and parents. She is also a member of Molly No-Mates, a traditional Morris folk dance group performed by drag kings, as the word “molly” is associated with queer people. Bronwen describes how she emphasizes process over product when working in community dance settings, prioritizing getting people comfortable in their bodies and finding expression through movement.

Bronwen Wilson Rashad is a dance artist based in the Forest of Dean in the UK. She has a background in contemporary dance and social anthropology. Having grown up outside the UK, with Welsh and English heritage, her practice reflects her interests in belonging, place, and folk culture. She works to create spaces where people can co-create new folk traditions that say something about where we are now. Over the past four years, she has led the Dancing the Parenting project, working with women and babies who are being cared for by the Perinatal Mental Health Team in South Wales. She is also a member of the drag king folk dance group Molly No-Mates. She is currently investigating how she can help a community find its dance.

To learn more, visit www.bronwenwilsonrashad.com.

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 school where he learns sign language, he finds a renewed connection to dance, movement, and community.

Perfect for young readers and families, Rhythms of Resilience is a heartfelt celebration of creativity, determination, and the strength of community. Tumi’s story encourages readers to embrace new possibilities and ways we can express ourselves.

Narrated by Joseph Tebandeke. Funded by The Pollinator Project for Tractus Art. 

Visit www.tractusart.com to learn more about this exciting book project and other Tractus Art projects. 

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 movement and outdoor spaces so that individuals of all abilities can experience the benefits of being in nature.

These audio scores are an invitation. You can listen, move, reflect, or simply immerse yourself in the sounds and sensations they bring. There is no right or wrong way to engage—whether you choose to dance, draw, write, or just be present.

Through this project, we hope to highlight the possibilities of accessing nature near cities, enhance well-being and quality of life, and promote awareness and understanding of diverse experiences in outdoor spaces.

Take a moment, listen, and let yourself move—however feels right for you.

These scores were created as part of the international collaborations coursework on the MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism at London Contemporary Dance School.  All facilitators leading these scores are current students on the course. 

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 movement and outdoor spaces so that individuals of all abilities can experience the benefits of being in nature.

These audio scores are an invitation. You can listen, move, reflect, or simply immerse yourself in the sounds and sensations they bring. There is no right or wrong way to engage—whether you choose to dance, draw, write, or just be present.

Through this project, we hope to highlight the possibilities of accessing nature near cities, enhance well-being and quality of life, and promote awareness and understanding of diverse experiences in outdoor spaces.

Take a moment, listen, and let yourself move—however feels right for you.

These scores were created as part of the international collaborations coursework on the MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism at London Contemporary Dance School.  All facilitators leading these scores are current students on the course. 

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 movement and outdoor spaces so that individuals of all abilities can experience the benefits of being in nature.

These audio scores are an invitation. You can listen, move, reflect, or simply immerse yourself in the sounds and sensations they bring. There is no right or wrong way to engage—whether you choose to dance, draw, write, or just be present.

Through this project, we hope to highlight the possibilities of accessing nature near cities, enhance well-being and quality of life, and promote awareness and understanding of diverse experiences in outdoor spaces.

Take a moment, listen, and let yourself move—however feels right for you.

These scores were created as part of the international collaborations coursework on the MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism at London Contemporary Dance School.  All facilitators leading these scores are current students on the course. 

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 movement and outdoor spaces so that individuals of all abilities can experience the benefits of being in nature.

These audio scores are an invitation. You can listen, move, reflect, or simply immerse yourself in the sounds and sensations they bring. There is no right or wrong way to engage—whether you choose to dance, draw, write, or just be present.

Through this project, we hope to highlight the possibilities of accessing nature near cities, enhance well-being and quality of life, and promote awareness and understanding of diverse experiences in outdoor spaces.

Take a moment, listen, and let yourself move—however feels right for you.

These scores were created as part of the international collaborations coursework on the MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism at London Contemporary Dance School.  All facilitators leading these scores are current students on the course. 

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 movement and outdoor spaces so that individuals of all abilities can experience the benefits of being in nature.

These audio scores are an invitation. You can listen, move, reflect, or simply immerse yourself in the sounds and sensations they bring. There is no right or wrong way to engage—whether you choose to dance, draw, write, or just be present.

Through this project, we hope to highlight the possibilities of accessing nature near cities, enhance well-being and quality of life, and promote awareness and understanding of diverse experiences in outdoor spaces.

Take a moment, listen, and let yourself move—however feels right for you.

These scores were created as part of the international collaborations coursework on the MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism at London Contemporary Dance School.  All facilitators leading these scores are current students on the course. 

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 Manhattan she realized she had never been in a dance class with a person who uses a wheelchair or who is Deaf. It catalyzed an interest in integrating disability, in both performance and education spaces, that would reshape her life. She believes we should be teaching all students that disability belongs in dance.

Melissa van Wijk was born and raised in The Netherlands where she attended Dansakademie Brabant and performed with the Elisabeth Dancers and Dans Studio Gerda Zaandam. She is the founder and director of Born Dancing andserves as choreographer for their original dance productionsand as lead dance educator for their education programs. She holds five NYS Teaching Certifications and has taught dance at NYC Public Schools in all five boroughs, working primarily in special education. Melissa has choreographed performances at The Cunningham Studio and Mulberry Street Theater among others. She is a Doctoral Candidate working on her dissertation research in Dance Education at Columbia University Teachers College. Previously Melissa worked as a Teaching Artist for New York City Ballet and Young Audiences. Melissa served as  program director of an infant movement program at Gymtime/York Avenue Preschool and currently works as a SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher) and Early Intervention Specialist in New York City. 

To learn more about Born Dancing, visit www.borndancing.org.