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2008 Episode 6: Disabled People Can't Dance

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Artsville: Disabled People Cant Dance is a portrait of two gifted dancers, Jesse Johnstone-Steele and Dan King, who happen to be disabled, and the unique dance company they dance for, Touch Compass.

Touch Compass is a mixed ability dance company with an established reputation for showcasing the talents of disabled dancers.

This year, Touch Compass celebrates their 10th anniversary as one of New Zealands most unique and enduring dance companies.

Narrated by renowned comedian, Philip Patston, Disabled People Cant Dance focuses on the company as the dancers embark on a tough rehearsal period followed by a national tour.

Dan says: I thought it would be cool to try something with people who society dont think they can dance. Id tell people I danced and they kind of look at me like No you dont, no, youre in a wheel chair, you cant. I tell them Im professional and theyre like No, youre not. You cant be. And they think its like some community thing. They dont take me seriously.

Along with the rest of the company, Jesse and Dan begin a tough three-week rehearsal process with theatrical director Christian Penny and Touch Compass founder and choreographer, Catherine Chappell. Christians style of working is different to Catherines and the dancers know he can be a tough taskmaster. The dancers have to dig deep to overcome the physical, mental and emotional challengers in front of them as they set off on tour.

Christian says Touch Compass transcends prejudice by making art. Not by just sitting around going, were wrongly positioned in the culture. Were making art in a new way on new terms. And thats not just liberating for the people who make it, its liberating for an audience because when they watch the work they go. I know those people, I see them in the street, but now I can have a communion with them, thats not social, but spiritual.

Were not selling any pain here it is art, says Christian. The audience pay to see the freedom of the performers just like any other art forms. A lot of the work with Touch Compass is getting able bodied dancers to enter in at that level. We auditioned 40 dancers and they can all dance, but can they dance in this environment? Youve gotta want to bring something of yourself youre prepared to reveal in a similar way.

As the tour gets underway, the company take to the road in a minibus to Whangarei, then on to Hastings and Wellington. On the road the camaraderie and relationships of the dancers and the obstacles the company must overcome are revealed as they perform night after night and travel from venue to venue. 

There could be several new able-bodied dancers in the show who havent worked with disabled dancers before. Theyll have to learn how to work with the disabled dancers before the tour kicks off, and master the difficult (and sometimes dangerous) act of controlled flying dance, where disabled dancers swing from ropes suspended from the roof. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the challenges of putting the tour together mount up.

 Follow the dancers through their gruelling rehearsal period and glimpse into Jess and Dans private lives, by meeting their families and support people. Artsville: Disabled People Cant Dance uncovers these dancers values and some of the reasons why they are driven to do what they do.

 

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