New Directions in Dance Medicine: Dancers with Disabilities, Blindness/Low Vision, and/or Deafness/Hard of Hearing

Mary Dubon, Rebecca Siegel, Merry L. Morris, Mark Tomasic, Judith Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Although dance medicine is a growing field, filled with up-to-date information on waysto promote healthy dance participation among recreational to elite dancers, to date,there has been little focus on dancers with disabilities, blindness/low vision, or deafness/hard of hearing (DWDBD). For the purposes of this article, DWDBD refers todancers with physical disabilities (affecting physical functioning, such as spinal cordinjury or amputation), intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDDs; affecting intellectualfunctioning and adaptive behavior or developmental/social skills, such as Downsyndrome, fragile X syndrome, or autism spectrum disorders), blindness/low vision,or deafness/hard of hearing. Other than anecdotal information, little is known aboutinjury patterns, injury prevention, or wellness strategies for DWDBD. However, thereare increasing numbers of dance programs and companies involving DWDBD at preprofessionaland professional levels. Dance teachers and choreographers may nowencounter a more diverse terrain when training dancing bodies, and this requires a significantreexamination of traditional practices. This article reviews the history and experience of DWDBD and explores dance medicine considerations relevant to workingwith DWDBD.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalPhys Med Rehabil Clin N Am
Volume32
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Integrated dance
  • Inclusive dance
  • Dancers with disabilities
  • Adaptive dance
  • Dance and Disability
  • Dance Medicine

Disciplines

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Dance
  • Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Disability Studies

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