Special thanks to the author Mira Helenius Martinsson, Executive and Artistic Director of Skånes Dansteater for this blog!!!

As Sweden’s only independent dance institution with an ensemble Skånes Dansteater has power and influence, that’s for sure. But are we challenging ourselves enough when it comes to raising awareness of equity?

Skånes Dansteater has an international ensemble of 20 dancers including three interns. One of the steady employed dancers, Madeleine Månsson, is a wheelchair user. We are a mainstream, able lead dance institution and don’t consider us being an inclusive company, even if inclusion is highly prioritized in our agenda and that we might be well known internationally due to successful tours with repertoire danced by Madeleine Månsson.

We are committed and organize iDance workshops for nonprofessional participants with disability and creative laboratories for the professional community of disabled artists, we work actively with the aesthetics of access and provide relaxed performances, we seek collaborations and have organized an international conference Dansfunk already three times to share knowledge and insights.

To provide more diverse programming locally we invite disabled artists to perform and give workshops at our accessible venue in Malmö. This luxury is not taken for granted and had to be historically worked on, for example by making the door openings wider and removing thresholds. On the other hand, accessibility is not always secured on tour and especially the older venues can be impossible to enter. Collective traffic is another challenge together with accessible hotel rooms. We demand access for the ensemble on tour, even when it might mean a missed opportunity, knowing that this will help the organizer to work on their venue’s accessibility locally. We want to be the catalysator of change.

Overall, there is still a huge need for more guidance and increased understanding if the cultural sector is to achieve equal access. This was clearly stated in the first ever transnational study Time to Act, commissioned by the British Council, within the context of Europe Beyond Access – the world’s largest transnational Arts & Disability project with Skånes Dansteater as one of the partners. The study robustly evidences that cultural professionals in the performing arts across Europe lack the knowledge and experience needed to support equal access to the cultural sector for disabled artists, disabled arts professionals, and disabled audiences. One of its clearest findings is that professionals in the performing arts need better knowledge of work by disabled artists. More than half of survey respondents rated their current knowledge as poor or very poor.

I reflect on my behavior patterns and blind spots to understand why it is so difficult to seek information. Inclusion at first sight seems to immediately lead to excluding others and even the basic communication is challenging. As an example, please try to compose an invitation to an event without using the word “we” or to describe a movement exercise without the assumption that everyone can see, hear, or use all their body parts freely!

To help us in this learning journey we use a method called Quick Trust in the beginning of a process to secure safe environment. The artistic process can therefore quickly dive deeper, and tools are provided for added competence and skills. Everyone benefits from the concept of care and when the communication is intentional and clear.

Strengthening the weak bands between communities and individuals is essential. This dialogue should be initiated by both people with and without disabilities. We should all stay open and curious to hear deviant perspectives. Maybe easier said than done? I dare to additionally propose that small steps are better than none even if the risk of getting criticized or fear of making mistakes are present. If we all participate in the change, soon we’ll have a network of experienced pedagogues, choreographers and dancers than can work in diverse circumstances developing dance to next level of inclusion. None of us as individuals or organizations can do it all, but together as industry we might be more successful!

-  It is time to act! -