We are Art Spark Dance

Building A Community Where Everyone is Dancing

Who We Are

We believe that everyone can dance.

Art Spark Dance is a program of Art Spark Texas, a Texas-based nonprofit that challenges perceptions of how people contribute to society by creating an arts-inspired, inclusive community of individuals with and without diverse disabilities. We aim to create safe dance spaces for anyone who has been affected by an inaccessible society. Co-founded by VSA Texas and Forklift Danceworks, now with full support from Art Spark Texas, and our partnership with DanceAbility International we continue to expand our reach into the central Texas community and beyond. 

A group of art people pose on a red carpet at a SXSW event
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two dancers performing outside. One performer is a sit-down dancer and the other performer is using a guide cane.
dancers practicing in a dance studio.
Tanya Winters and Silva Laukkanen dancing on a train. Tanya holds hands with a passenger as Silva passing Tanya's crutches to another passenger.
Dancers performing in a gymnasium.
Silva Laukkanen and Tanya Winters performing in the woods. Silva is holding one of tanya's crutches and looks through it like a telescope.
dancers posing in a lane with one arm on the shoulder of the person in front of them.
Dancers performing outside in downtown Austin
Dancers practicing in a dance studio.
two dancers wrapped in an orange silk cloth embrace eachother.
Two wheelchair dancers side by side with one arm reaching out in front of them.
two dancers with and without disabilities perform on stage with red furniture.
three dancers with and without disabilities practice in a studio space. One dancer is leaping into the air.
two dancers with and without disabilities perform on stage. One dancer is on the ground and the other stands behind them. Both dancers are reaching one arm towards the ceiling.
four dancers with and without disabilities positioned side by side face away from the camera. two dancers on the left have one arm reaching up and the other arm stretched to the side.
A group of dancers with and without disabilities perform outside in front of a large building. The dancers are in various poses and wearing brightly colored clothing.
A group of 20 dancers with and without disabilities practice in a dimply lit studio space.
A dancer wearing a black hoodie poses in a desert landscape with a mountain in the distance.
A group of dancers with and without disabilities sitting in a circle listening to someone speak.

What We Do

01.

-We Advocate

We create opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities in central Texas to participate in dance by championing for inclusion and accessibility in the field of dance.

02.

-We Build Networks

We connect like-minded movers, dancers, and educators interested in the field of inclusive dance.

03.

-We Empower

We believe that everyone can dance. We provide the tools you will need to feel confident and comfortable while dancing.

04.

-We Educate

We redefine dance and disability through classes, lectures, and performances. Inclusion and accessibility are at the forefront of everything we do. 

05.

-We Research

We write reports in collaboration with dance educators on the future of inclusive dance. We hope to inspire increased awareness of individuals with diverse abilities in the field of dance.

06.

-We Engage

We offer a variety of free to low-cost classes inclusive to individuals of all abilities and skill levels for ages 16 and up. 

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Testimonials

Absolutely the best organization for artists with disabilities. These people give their heart and soul into helping others and it makes you want to do the same. They have helped me so much and gave me hope. 

Art Spark Texas helps people with disabilities gain skills, build confidence, and help their art get recognized for everyone to enjoy.

Sign up for our monthly Art Spark Dance newsletter to learn about upcoming classes, performances, and other events.

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Tremendous thanks go to the talented photographers behind the incredible photos on our website: Camille Wheeler, Pat Berrett, Boye Nagle, Silva Laukkanen, and James Wilkus.

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