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Centering the Artist Series presents Deaf/Disabled Access as Artistic Practice: DeafDisabled Leadership and Well-Being in Dance

Monday, May 18, 2026
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM (EDT)
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Centering the Artist is Dance/USA's public learning series, which advances well-being in the arts through artist-driven dialogue, reflection, and collective inquiry.

More About the Series: 
Continuing Dance/USA’s programming for and about independent artists, this series of critical conversations will bring together artists from diverse backgrounds to share and reflect on their journeys in dance, their artistic work, and their practice around wellness.  Guided by the artists’ experience and interests, these conversations center storytelling and invite deep listening and collective learning. Exploring these and other issues, this series of programs will offer a learning journey, with moderated and unmoderated conversations, opportunities for attendee participation, and curated readings. Thank you to the Wallace Foundation for their partnership in presenting this series in 2026. 

More About the Conversation: 

Traditional rehearsal rooms often center speed, sound, and hierarchy. These systems can create burnout, miscommunication, and exclusion not only for Deaf and disabled artists, but for everyone involved in the creative process.
When Deaf and Disabled artists lead, access shifts from being an afterthought to being the foundation. Communication becomes intentional. Visual clarity matters. Time is structured differently. Responsibility is shared. The artistic work strengthens because the room itself is designed with care.
This session centers DeafDisabled leadership as a model for well-being in dance. Rather than focusing on compliance or accommodation checklists, we will examine how access can function as artistic methodology and sustainability practice. Participants will explore how rehearsal structures, communication norms, and budgeting decisions directly impact artistic longevity and collective health.
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Krystal Collins (c)

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