LabE is a series of monthly cohort meetings addressing particular needs of disabled dance artists.

Limited capacity. Advanced registration is requested.
Register Here: https://forms.gle/ez5KuosLoZcnktKU8

The LabE gathering on July 2nd is designed to be a safe, disability-centric space where artists can come together to share a work-in-progress, try out new ideas, workshop concepts, and experiment with new scores. Hosted by Maggie Bridger, this inclusive event is open to all artists who seek a supportive community where they can connect with peers who share similar experiences and offer and receive support, encouragement, and constructive feedback.

This gathering aims to foster community connections among Deaf, disabled, sick, neurodivergent, and Mad artists while providing a platform for artists to explore their creativity and showcase their unique perspectives.

In-progress projects will be presented by Tango 21 Dance Theater:

Tango is often thought of as an intimate, sensual, and passionate dance with a close embrace and intricate footwork. But there’s so much more than meets the eye with this dance form. How can we create equality on the social tango dance floor and on stage for both seated and standing dancers?

Tango 21 Dance Theater presents a look at their ongoing work in developing physically integrated techniques for Argentine tango (choreographed dances as well as improvised social dancing). A discussion and dance demo will be followed by a tango workshop for dancers of all embodiments.

Participants:

Liz Sung
Jorge Niedas
Robby Williams
Ladonna Freidheim
Rion Klawinski
Lloyd Natof

Photos courtesy of Stefan Mazurek/Tango 21 Dance Theater

If you are an artist who is interested in showcasing your art or working through new ideas, please reach out to Maggie at mbridg8@uic.edu to participate in this event.

LabE is open to all Chicago-area dance artists who self-identify as Deaf/deaf/hard of hearing, sick, mad, neurodivergent, disabled or living with a disability, and/or who have lived experience with disability or impairment. This space is particularly meant for those interested in exploring disability and impairment-informed modes of practicing dance.

ASL Interpretation is provided by Kelsey Frost.

Additional Access Information is available here. For any other questions or requests regarding accessibility accommodations, please contact HCL’s Accessibility Coordinator, Angee Lennard (angee@highconceptlabs.org).

About LabE

LabE is a series of monthly cohort meetings addressing particular needs of disabled dance artists such as studio access, development and production support, and platforms for promoting Chicago’s sick, Deaf and disabled dance artists.

Learn more about LAB E: https://highconceptlabs.org/news-2/labe-launches-at-experimental-station

About the Curator

Maggie Bridger is a 2022 City of Chicago Individual Artist Program grantee and PhD candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Department of Disability and Human Development. She is a co-founder of the Inclusive Dance Workshop Series at Access Living, for which she and her project partner received a 2021 Chicago Area Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. She was part of the inaugural cohort of the Dancing Disability Lab at UCLA and serves on the planning committee for CounterBalance, Chicago’s annual integrated dance concert.

Supported by High Concept Labs, the Monira Foundation, and Experimental Station, where HCL is in residence.

Official Website

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Tags: Access Living, CounterBalance, Experimental Station, High Concept Labs, Jorge Niedas, Lab E: In-Progress Showing, Ladonna Freidheim, Liz Sung, Lloyd Natof, Maggie Bridger, Monira Foundation, Rion Klawinski, Robby Williams, Tango 21 Dance TheaterChicago, UCLA, Woodlawn