Feature
Breaking down barriers to dance After a successful experience with adapted examinations, remarkable young dancer Ava is already planning more. Last year, ISTD member Catherine Parker (Starmakers Theatre School) and student Ava were advocates for our Find your Dance Space campaign, encouraging more people across the UK to start dancing with an ISTD qualified teacher. This year, they both took part in the pilot of our revised Application for Reasonable Adjustment (ARA) process, and Ava went on to receive a Distinction in her Grade 2 Tap exam. We spoke to them both about their experience of the new process, and how they work together to adapt movement to suit Ava who is a single leg amputee.
In Catherine’s words Why did you decide to become involved in the ISTD ARA pilot project? Inclusivity and diversity in dance are things that I am very passionate about. We have always prided ourselves on being a school that is suitable for all children, no matter their ability or additional need. If somebody wants to dance, I believe that they should have the opportunity to. As someone who has health issues myself and submitted ARA forms for my own Licentiate exams, I feel it’s an important process that is essential for making the examination a positive experience for both the candidate, teacher and examiner. As the examiner only has a short time with the candidate, I feel it is essential that they know as much as possible about the candidate and how they can enhance their experience. 6
Dance | Issue 499
How did you begin to approach bespoke adaptations to the syllabus content for Ava? What things did you need to take into consideration? Despite having worked with many children with additional needs, including Down’s Syndrome, Autism, Aspergers, Cerebral Palsy and many more, Ava is the first student I have taught with a prosthetic limb. Ava was a very competent and capable competition student before she lost her leg, so we have had to overcome the added psychological challenges and frustrations that Ava has encountered. Many of things she could do very easily before were now not possible due to her prosthetic limb. Ava’s journey has been a partnership involving Ava, her family, myself, her other teachers and her
Ava’s journey has been a partnership involving Ava, her family, myself, her other teachers and her fellow students.
