Do people with physical disabilities view dance differently to those with able bodies?

Abstract

The area under investigation is "Do people with physical disabilities view dance differently to those with able bodies?". Research within the field of dance and disability is currently relatively minimal, with an ever expanding base. The purpose of this study was to discover whether a person’s physicality and the existence or non-existence of a disability could affect the way they view dance. The study follows a case study approach by discovering an in-depth knowledge of two participants, one disabled, and the other able-bodied. Both participants have Undergraduate and Master’s Degrees, and both are experienced through participation in dance. The participant’s perceptions of dance were discovered through an interview approach, firstly by uncovering the participants’ previous experiences of dance and possible prejudices, then through an interview after viewing two dance works; one inclusive, the other non-inclusive. The main findings derived from the study were that both participants did view the dances in different ways, and much of their preferences when viewing related back to personal inhibitions – particularly the disabled participant. Also, both participants related to the idea of "difference"; a common theme within inclusive dance.