CONTEXT While our 21st century societies have come a long way to create more equality and overcome several layers of exclusions, some remain. Disability is one of them. In many places people with disability are hidden, excluded, practical or symbolic borders keep them away from public space. Theoretical research and experience have both shown that merely creating the occasion for people of different groups to get in touch does not necessarily lead to real contact, engagement and collaboration. It can also lead to the reinforcing of stereotypes and differentiations. It is our contention that artistic creation can become the necessary catalyst to turn such occasion to real contact. The accessibility of engaging in artistic activities is present to different degrees in our partner countries. But even where there are opportunities for people with special needs, these rarely imply inclusive settings in the sense of welcoming people with and without disability. It seems that with very rare exceptions in all the cities the artistic activity scene is quite divided as most actions are only for persons with or without disabilities. Consequently there are very few opportunities where people with and without disability encounter each other on an “equal footing” that is outside of a formal framework where one would become the mentor of the other. And such spaces for encounter are crucially needed as “Only by encountering difference is it possible to learn to treat it as a natural thing » (Virtanen, PIrkko. 2009, 236) Our project has the ambition of showing how that is possible, on three levels. First, on interpersonal level, second on small group level, third on wider social level through public space art events. NEEDS ADRESSED YOUNG PEOPLE According to research, people without disability are often apprehensive in entering contact with disables people, by not knowing “what is appropriate”. Similarly, young people with disabilities may be apprehensive about encounters as they anticipate the embarrassment of the others. YOUTH WORKERS, EDUCATORS who have no “specialisation” in disability may be reluctant to involve young people with disability, out of concern that they lack the appropriate preparation, skills and knowledge to welcome them. This is particularly prone to happen in areas where the body is relevant: sports, dance, theatre (as opposed to seated activities such as IT..). Our project wishes to remedy this problem by bringing a viable model of body-based (dance-based) workshop activities capable of welcoming young people with and without disability. WIDER SOCIETY still too many apprehensions and preconceptions remain concerning disability, and beyond the physical barriers these representations constitute another obstacle of a positive coexistence. OBJECTIVES For young people with disability: positive experiences of contact, collaboration, engagement with young people without disability, an experience of “power within” (valorisation of own resources) of “power with” (sharing with others) and “power to” (readiness to act, to dance, to travel, to meet etc.). Reduced stress in social situations. For young people without disability : positive experiences of contact, collaboration, engagement with young people with disability, overcoming possible apprehensions about contact with people with disability For youth workers: reducing apprehensions about welcoming young people with disability in different education activities for young people where the body is relevant, examples of collaborations with organisations from the artistic field For the larger audience / local communities: countering preconceptions about disability (such as people with disability cannot dance or cannot offer an aesthetic experience) PARTICIPANTS During the project period we will work together closely with 30 young people, some of them with and some without disability. We’ll also work closely with 30 youth workers, on whom we count to help us prepare the transfer of the methods in the lost adapted way possible. Through our multiplier and dissemination events we plan to reach at least 500 people face to face and more than 10.000 people through online communication. ACTIVITIES The core of our methodological development is envisaged through co-construction sessions with three groups of young people with and without disability, who will accompany us through the three phases of the project: first exploring how dance becomes a means to get in contact and engage with each other. Second, using collective choreography to learn collaboration, building on everyone’s contributions, and sharing it with an audience. Third, bringing our to the public space. Based on these experiences we’ll create toolkits and video lessons and share them with youth workers so they can enrich their practice.
Notre intention avec ce projet était de montrer comment un contact réel au-delà des différences est possible à travers la musique et la danse - à trois niveaux : Premièrement, au niveau interpersonnel, deuxièmement au niveau des petits groupes, et troisièmement au niveau social plus large par le biais d'événements artistiques dans l'espace public. Trouver des lieux de rencontre est en effet essentiel et n'oublions pas que "ce n'est qu'en rencontrant les différences que nous pouvons apprendre à les considérer comme une chose naturelle" (Virtanen, PIrkko. 2009, 236). Nos objectifs pour les jeunes étaient donc d'offrir des expériences positives de contact, de collaboration, d'engagement, d'expérience de "pouvoir intérieur" (valorisation de ses propres ressources), de "pouvoir avec" (partage avec les autres) et de "pouvoir envers" (volonté d'agir, de danser, de voyager, de se rencontrer, etc. Pour les professionnels/bénévoles du secteur de la jeunesse, nous souhaitions donner des exemples sur la façon dont la danse/musique peut être un outil pédagogique pour créer un contact et une collaboration entre les jeunes.
Selon la recherche, on appréhende souvent d'entrer en contact avec des personnes en situation de handicap, parce qu'on ne sait pas "ce qui est approprié". De même, les jeunes en situation de handicape peuvent appréhender les rencontres car ils anticipent l'embarras des autres. Les TRAVAILLEURS DE JEUNESSE et les ÉDUCATEURS qui ne sont pas "spécialisés" dans le handicap peuvent être réticents à impliquer des jeunes en situation de handicap, car ils craignent de ne pas avoir la préparation, les compétences et les connaissances nécessaires pour les accueillir. Cette situation est particulièrement fréquente dans les domaines où le corps est important : sports, danse, théâtre (par opposition aux activités assises). Nous avons postulé pour ce projet afin de créer plus de compréhension, et de surmonter les peurs qui amènent souvent les exclusions qui existent encore au sujet du handicap. Dans de nombreux endroits, les personnes handicapées sont cachées, exclues, des limites pratiques ou symboliques les tiennent à l'écart de l'espace public. Nous pensons que la création artistique peut offrir des espaces et des opportunités pour un contact réel au-delà des différences.