Performance & Health Symposium

30 Nov to 1 Dec 2023

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Movement Workshop

1 Dec 2023 • 13:00 - 14:00

Dance Atelier 1, Level 3, Stephen Riady Centre, 2 College Ave West, Singapore 138607 • Map

About Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC)
We are a community initiative by Maya Dance Theatre (MDT) started in June 2018 to create a co-existing space for persons with disabilities and art-makers. Drawing from MDT’s training, we develop dance techniques inspired from Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance. Our members also develop skills related to employment in the arts, such as costume management, administration, and teaching at preschools.

In our practice, we believe in:

Collaboration – Encouraging interaction across abilities through exchanging and co-creating with the members.
Connection – We also reach out to international partners/collaborators and platforms where we connect through our passion.
These are applied in our ELEVATE training programme, funded by Tote Board and supported by SG Enable, enabling the team to keep reaching new heights. Watch the video below to learn more.

 

Our Story
“When can I dance with you and become a professional dancer?”

This was the question which sparked the idea to create a semi-professional team of dancers of diverse abilities. For more than 20 years, Kavitha Krishnan (Artistic Director, MDT) and Shahrin Johry (Principal Dancer, MDT) have worked with persons with disabilities through dance and the arts. Taking it a step further, Shahrin created a dance piece Small Steps with the dancers, which was presented on a professional platform called Release by MDT.

The success of the piece sealed our conviction. We wanted to facilitate a space where people of all abilities have the opportunity to chase their dreams in the arts. Thus, DADC was born, led by Kavitha and Subastian Tan (Program Supervisor, DADC), alongside Imran Manaff (Company Manager, MDT) and Eva Tey (Principal Dancer, MDT). Our very first team was made up of 6 dancers living with Down Syndrome, some of whom were the dancers in Small Steps.

Today, we have 15 members in our team of both professionals and persons with disabilities. We are continuously expanding and inviting new persons to be in our space!

Find out more here.

About the Workshop

Kavitha Krishan will lead a team of dancers to hold space with the workshop participants and explore co-movement and ways to relate to each other.

Location: Dance Atelier 1, Level 3, Stephen Riady Centre, 2 College Ave West, Singapore 138607
Duration: 1 hour
The workshop will be followed by a panel discussion, where Kavitha Krishan will talk about her practice and work with DADC.

There are limited places to the workshop. Register for a place here:

Movement Workshop

 

People

  • Workshop Facilitator
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    Kavitha Krishnan

    Co-founder and artistic director, Maya Dance Theatre

Kavitha Krishnan’s impressive career encompasses both her accomplishments as a dancer and her impactful contributions to the arts community, especially in the context of social causes and diversity. Kavitha co-founded Maya Dance Theatre (MDT), a non-profit arts company, dedicated to utilizing the arts as a powerful tool for social change and promoting positive impact. MDT received SEED Grant from National Arts Council (2015-2018).

In 2018 under Kavitha’s leadership, and leveraging her background as an occupational therapist, she created a space–Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC)–where dancers with diverse abilities collaborate with professional dancers. DADC’s purpose is to celebrate differences, promote inclusion, and showcase the potential of artistic expression to bridge gaps and promote understanding among people of all abilities. Kavitha’s artistic journey exemplifies the incredible potential of the arts, its transformative power in addressing societal challenges, serving as a medium to build connections, conveying messages and uplifting individuals and communities.

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