Dawn States Dance Company: Disabilities

sunshineandsteel.com - Link to previous work and company website
https://vimeo.com/456340217  - link to Healing Connections: 2020 with audio description
https://philadelphiadance.org/dancejournal/2020/09/11/dawn-states-healing-connections-movement-is-a-biography/ - A link to a review of Healing Connections: 2020

Above image description: Three dancers are in a triangle, two in front and one in the back. The dancer in the back is using a cane. The dancers in the front are using a power wheelchair and scooter. All dancers have their arms in a  T shape. From Healing Connections: 2020

Healing Connections: 2020, is the debut work of Dawn States Dance Company. This work premiered for free as part of the 2020 FringeArts Festival. The goal of this company and this dance work is to equitably compensate other creatives with disabilities and to show the artistry present in disability. Dawn States Company seeks to provide a narrative centered in accessibility and showcasing dance pieces rooted in accessibility and disability. While this debut work was shown with no charge,  in order for the company to keep making work, the following funding is required. The dancers, filmer and musician for the upcoming project all identify as having disabilities. 

Filmer: $200

Musician: $200

Dancers: $600

Audio Description: $200 

Any additional funds will go toward maintaining a  Vimeo platform, space rental and costumes. 

What it means, in the words of the dancers from Healing Connections: 2020

From dancer Dynah Haubert; "I really loved participating. Most of the wheelchair dance that I have done in the past has not been super expressive, like ballroom dance, where it feels more about executing steps. I loved the chance to get to move more organically." 

From dancer Jamie Ray-Leonetti; "I think everything came together beautifully! I actually shed a tear! Thank you again for including me. It was really meaningful, especially at this time." 


Donating to Dawn States Dance Company would mean the continuation of work like this that contributes a different narrative to dance, one where disability and artistry are combined. 

The funds would be used to complete another dance project before the end of 2020.