UNIque@dance aims to expand the imagination and reality of bodily models in the field of contemporary dance - especially within the framework of the institutions that regulate professional access to dance as a profession. The artistic examination of diverse bodies in their aesthetic diversity is to become an integral part of the curriculum in the future and enrich and expand dance training in Germany.
UNIque@dance will accompany colleges and universities with dance degree programmes on this path - the focus here is on the nationwide creation of sustainable cooperations with the participation of university representatives, experts in mixed-abled dance, associations, etc.
In order to meet the challenges associated with this, UNIque@dance proposes the establishment of an excellence research centre: There, concepts and strategies are to be developed to make the subjects in the curriculum accessible to students with non-normative corporealities in the future. This process is supported by coaches, facilitators and experts with disabilities for mixed-abled dance who contribute their competences. In initial discussions with some relevant institutions, UNIque@dance has already received very positive feedback on this project.
In addition, UNIque@dance would like to create formats to include the non-institutional structure of the dance scene - both the artistic stage area and the dance education area in the broader sense. To this end, UNIque@dance plans to establish ThinkTanks and MoveTanks in order to simultaneously guarantee the possibility of research and further development in this context.
UNIque@dance was initiated by Gerda König, artistic director, and Gitta Roser, choreographer of the DIN A 13 tanzcompany, who have been creating mixed-abled dance productions on an international level for more than 27 years. Dr. Gustavo Fijalkow, who has many years of international experience as a practitioner - including in the field of mixed-abled dance - and as an academic, was also involved in the conceptual development. He was recruited as project leader and will be jointly responsible for the further implementation of UNIque@dance.