Dance, Disability and Law

The six coeditors of this reference, who are variously scholars of dance and law, focus on the nexus between normative (often idealized) dance, what the British call disabled dance, and the law. The text highlights the fact that dancers with disabilities don’t conform to the expected parameters of athleticism and grace that epitomize most able-bodied performance. These dancers are often marginalized, and public awareness of the vast talent expressed by dancers with disabilities is therefore limited; the audience has very different expectations of the performance of a dancer with a disability versus an able-bodied performer's. The volume's contributors are chiefly British; most are performers with a disability who share their experiences and knowledge, highlighting both the challenges faced on a daily basis as well as the passionate joy of creating an enjoyable production. Many productions described in this text aim to dismantle societal stereotypes of disability by inviting the audience to experience the dynamics of living with a disability. Equal rights and accessibility to events are mandated by the Disability Discrimination Act of Britain. Though focused on the UK, this text offers an engaging look at a relatively understudied community.

-- D. J. Winchester * Choice Connect, Vol 56. No.