The professional dancers at Anjali Dance Company all have a learning disability, writes Susan Norwood. Based in Banbury, the company tours nationally and undertakes a varied programme of education and outreach work.
Anjali recently ran a training project for dancers and choreographers with members of Young Anjali, a group of teenage learning disabled dancers, and a professional member of the main company. The project took place at Modern Art Oxford, working the concepts and themes behind an exhibition by installation artist Monica Bonvicini. This was an integrated project which was to result in all participants performing at the end of the week. It successfully achieved integration, both in the performance and in the process, which was described in the evaluation as being built on the equality of all participants.
Key to the process was the development of a shared language with all the participants. This came from participants developing a movement vocabulary inspired by their individual interpretation and response to the exhibition. Each person then taught the others their movement vocabulary, and in so doing generated the group’s shared language. It was this language which was then used to create the performance.
Another essential element was the concept of equal responsibility within the process. With Young Anjali dancers having the same amount of time as the other dancers to direct their ideas, everyone was able to gain an insight into each other’s thoughts. The setting also assisted this equality. The artwork provided the neutral backdrop for the project because neither group had prior knowledge of the exhibition. Language can be a barrier, but working with visuals helped, as they can be read and interpreted through dance.
The project concluded with a performance structured around the group’s similarities and contrasts. Within the integrated performance, the performers with a learning difficulty had some solos, as well as being part of the main structure. Their solos revealed their ability to lead the performance and not merely to follow it. Their ideas were at the heart of the performance and were vital to its success.
Susan Norwood is Education Director at Anjali Dance Company. t: 01295 251909;
e: info@anjali.co.uk; w: http://www.anjali.co.uk