Inclinations

Dancing Ramps, Disability, and Multiplicities through Research-Creation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18432/ari29627

Keywords:

Disability justice, critical disability studies, intersectionality, research-creation, dance, video

Abstract

Inclinations is an audio-described, 7-minute, site-specific, disability dance on film followed by a video discussion between three of the disabled artist-researchers. Throughout this project, we embraced a research-creation methodology to engage with the research question: How can we fully embed intersectional disability justice, not only as a theoretical lens, but also, as a methodological imperative? This work centres the concepts of disability culture and disability generativity, and purposefully diverges from more popular traditions of physically-integrated dance in favour of disability dance. We demonstrate and discuss how this choice—alongside various filmic practices—seeks to decentre the ableist gaze, normalizing narratives, and the ubiquitous non-disabled referent. Other methodological considerations enacted and discussed in this work include centring access aesthetics, consent, care, disability justice principles, and questions of power in every aspect of the creation process.

Author Biographies

Danielle Peers, University of Alberta

Danielle Peers is a Canada Research Chair in Disability and Movement Cultures in Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta.

Alice Sheppard, Disability Dance Works

Alice Sheppard  is a choreographer, dancer, speaker, and artistic lead at Disability Dance Works and Kinetic Light. 

Lindsay Eales, University of Alberta

Lindsay Eales  is a dancer, choreographer, and scholar studying disability and mad art, in Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. 

Abbie Schenk, University of Alberta

Abbie Schenk just completed her masters in Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta, focusing on photography and trans travel.

Published

2022-03-26

How to Cite

Peers, D., Sheppard, A., Eales, L., & Schenk, A. (2022). Inclinations: Dancing Ramps, Disability, and Multiplicities through Research-Creation. Art/Research/International:/A/Transdisciplinary/Journal, 7(1), 257–266. https://doi.org/10.18432/ari29627