The last Dancing Together session in Spring 2017 was on a Saturday in late May.
The details from the session have been left up for now, as an example of what sessions and accessibility are like (and as a template for events in 2018).
Previous info:
The next Dancing Together session will be Saturday [date], from [time], at Dance Victoria Studios (2750 Quadra Street) at the back door (use the rear parking entrance on Market Street), in Lkwungen Territory.
Kemi will be facilitating the session: “Join me to learn how to dance the Electric Slide! A popular soul line dance from my childhood that is still going strong, this dance promotes community, inclusion and self expression!” There will be variations offered, to adapt the moves to our collective abilities and mobilities. There will also be some social dance time (to practice the moves just learned and/or freestyle dancing).
Note: Please do not use scented products on the day of the event (such as perfume, cologne or scented hair/deoderant/body products).
There are sections below with the following headings: Cost; Location; Directions and parking; Accessibility.
Cost:
Sessions are sliding scale, $0-20 (pay what you can afford). Sessions are free for Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth-aht and Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw people, in recognition of the families and Nations whose unceded territories are on this Island, and with humble awareness of the horrific impacts of ongoing colonialism.
Location:
We are using the back entrance at Dance Victoria studios in the Quadra Village neighbourhood, in the unceded territories of the Lekwungen Peoples (Songhees and Esquimalt Nations).
Address: 2750 Quadra Street; we will be using the back door so please use the rear parking entrance on Market Street (has a tall radio tower in it); we are using the door at the very end of the rear parking lot. (If coming from Quadra street: the back door is at the end of the second parking lot on Market Street.)
Entrance access: there is a curb cut and short sidewalk to the back door, which is an automatic door that opens outwards; there will be a volunteer at the door (from 3:15pm-3:45pm on May 27th) who can open the second door if more width is needed or can hold the door open longer. There is a 0.5″ gap to the door sill; please let us know if there is a way to assist if it is a problem. The event and washrooms are all on one level (no stairs). Accessibility details are included below under two sections: Directions & parking, and Accessibility.
Directions and parking:
Bus: The #4 and #6 and buses stop near Quadra and Hillside, approximately 1 block from the venue.
Drop-off (including HandyDart): please note the location is in the “rear parking entrance on Market Street.” There is no separate drop-off zone; your ride could back-up slowly through the middle of the parking lot towards the door at the end of the rear parking lot. The door will be unlocked 15 minutes before the event; if you will potentially arrive earlier than this please be in touch so we can have someone at the door earlier if possible.
Driving/ Biking:
*There is no left turn at Market Street (if heading North on Quadra Street).
If heading South on Quadra: turn right onto Market Street and take the second driveway (rear parking) on the right.
If heading North on Quadra (from downtown): turn left at Hillside then turn right onto Wark Street then right onto Market Street, and it will be the first long parking lot on your left (after the housing complex).
If heading along Hillside: turn North onto Wark Street then turn right onto Market Street, and it will be the first long parking lot on your left (after the housing complex).
Parking:
Vehicle parking: The venue has created one accessible stall next to the back door.
If you do not need to be close to the building entrance for mobility or safety reasons, then please park a bit closer to the Market Street end of the parking lot.
Bike parking: There is a bike rack around the front of the building at the end of the front parking lot (then come around to the rear parking lot and back door); there are also sign posts on the other side of Market Street, but please be careful not to block wide accessibility of the sidewalk.
Accessibility:
The sessions are for people of all abilities, including people who dance using mobility devices such as canes, crutches, scooters, walkers and wheelchairs; people who are blind or partially sighted; people who are Deaf or hard of hearing; people who are not comfortable holding hands or being in contact some or all of the time; and people who would like to stay stationary such as seated on a chair to dance.
We plan to have movement translators: a group of participants who hang out beside the instructors and help translate dance style instructions into a variety of options and examples (such as interpreting the type of movement while sitting, moving an arm instead of feet, dancing without holding hands, etc.).
Please [link: contact us] if you have any accessibility questions or if there are ways the sessions could be made more accessible to you. Below are some details about accessibility.
Bathroom:
-The space we are using has one all-genders accessible restroom (one stall) on the same floor as where we are dancing (it does not have an automatic door, an “on call” volunteer will be available to assist with the door; please be in touch for dimensions and details).
-There are two other washrooms. There is another event happening in the venue on May 27th and the venue has requested that two of the washrooms be left as gendered (as a women’s washroom and a men’s washroom; based on how people self-identify in terms of gender identity and gender expression) as well as having one all-genders accessible washroom. (For future sessions when there are no other events happening in the venue, then we will be adding signage (“including trans and non-binary people”) on the two gendered washroom doors. The venue washrooms is an ongoing discussion.)
Access support:
-We aim to have multiple “on call” (access support/ safer spaces) people present each session, who participants can connect with if an issue comes up during a session.
-We may use or adapt Homospun’s [link: Safer Spaces Guidelines].
-We will have guidelines for music, aiming for lyrics that are consensual, anti-oppressive and friendly for all ages.
-If one-to-one support would allow you to participate, if possible please come with a friend or support person. If you do not have access to a support person, you could be in touch about your access needs and we will try to find a support volunteer with relevant training or experience.
-At the start of partner dance lessons we can do a round of names, gender pronouns and a chance to mention anything you would like the group to know safety-wise about dancing with you (some examples: please be careful around my power chair’s joystick; here are the ways I sign or communicate yes and no; after a dance I’d like to be guided over to the next dancer; today I’d like a bit of space and might not hold hands at all; I do not want to be spun around because of vertigo; etc.).
-There is a small grassy area for service animal toileting on Market Street at either side of the rear parking entrance.
Quieter space:
-There is a foyer outside of the dance studio, available for anyone wanting space away from the group. The foyer has a few options of seating (different chairs and a bench). Although the foyer will be designated by the group as a quieter and solitude area, sometimes there may be another event in the building with some people passing by and some noise from the floor below. Please let us know if there is something that you would like there to be in the foyer area (such as a blanket, yoga mat, etc.).
Art and games table:
-There will be an art and games table at the side of the dance studio, in case anyone is not feeling like dancing for some or all of a session, or for if there are any family members coming with you who won’t be dancing.
Children:
-Children can dance if they want to or to hang out at the side of the dance studio in the art/games/play area.
-Currently there is not capacity to provide childminding; however if there is interest we could fundraise to hire a childcare provider.
No photos: The taking of photos or video of the group will not be permitted. If at some point the group would like to have the option of a designated photo shoot, the group would discuss how to do so safely and to only involve people who are fully consenting to it.
Feedback: Dancing Together is an imperfect attempt at learning accessibility. During sessions, concerns can be brought to “on call” people and co-facilitators. At the end of each lesson there will be a debrief circle, with a chance to mention feedback about what you liked or what could be done another way. There will be paper and pens at the entrance door table with a box for collecting gifts of feedback. If you have any ideas, edits or feedback, please [link: contact us].
Please [link: contact us] to be added to the group’s email list, or to be in touch about anything to do with Dancing Together sessions.
Dancing Together 