Chris Nykiel
Disabled Dancer
I am a wheelchair user who first became interested in dance when I took part in the Dansopolis commissions in 2007. It was exciting to work with a range of dancers alongside professional choreographers, and put on a stage show.
Since then I felt inspired to participate in the Life Lines residency with Emma Clayton at Yorkshire Dance in August 2009. This brought non-stereotypical dancers together with students and professionals.
In early 2010 I participated in a workshop with Candoco.
Currently I contribute to the dance element in Hidden Beauty 2011 multi-media project where I performed a semi-improvised piece with Lucie Lee.
I also attend the weekly Dancing with Wheels social sessions.
Along with my friend Linzi Rossetti, I hope to set up an integrated dance company of professionals and amateurs, disabled and non-disabled performers. We will aim for a varied bill of challenging and fun pieces, to make our audience laugh and cry. We will expect our dancers to have a professional attitude to performance, but also promote the physical and emotional benefits. When they have seen our performance, the audience will feel inspired to take part.
www.hiddenbeauty2011.webs.com
http://dwwleeds.wordpress.com
Find ‘Life Lines’ on Facebook
Find out more about The Collective – Yorkshire Dance Membership – here
