What is physically integrated dance?

Physically integrated dance incorporates dancers with and without disabilities. Full Radius Dance is committed to redefining the boundaries of dance through performance, education, and advocacy, and promoting its core value of body positivity.

Full Radius Dance believes in the social model of disability. This is an important way of perceiving inequality because it views disability as stemming from communities, services and spaces that are not accessible or inclusive. In the social model of disability, it is society that places limits on a person, not their disability. Our dancers with and without disabilities perform together on the same stage as a call to action.

How old is the company?    

Full Radius Dance was founded in 1990 by Artistic/Executive Director Douglas Scott. In 1993, the company began working in the field of physically integrated dance. 

Who are your dancers?

Our dancers are professionally trained artists with and without disabilities who are dedicated to physically integrated dance. 

How is Full Radius Dance different from other dance companies? 

Full Radius Dance is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of dance. Historically, dance training assumes a set of norms, paradigms, and aesthetics applicable only to people without disabilities. Full Radius Dance has created a methodology of rigorous dance training that serves both disabled and non-disabled dancers. Our performances highlight rich, full-bodied movement and innovative partnering. 

What are the benefits of including a physically integrated dance company as a partner?

We are advocating for MORE integration combining disabled and nondisabled artists in the Atlanta arts community. Up to 1 in 4 (27 percent) adults in the United States have some type of disability. Many of these individuals don’t have the opportunity to experience inclusive arts programming either as audience members and/or participants. Representation matters. By seeing diverse bodies dancing together in a professional company, audiences will  experience feelings of validation, a reduction in negative stereotypes, and an increased understanding of human diversity. Full Radius Dance advocates for Atlanta artists with a lived experience of disability while promoting representation and understanding of social model.

How much is a program?

The pricing of community engagement depends upon what activities the company will be doing with a partner. We take into consideration the length of the performance or workshop, the number of dancers available for certain works, modifications of the built space, travel costs, etc. It's something we determine on a case by case basis and agree upon through program proposals.

How long is a performance?

The length of a performance is tailored to the particular needs of the collaborator or presenter. Performances can last anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes up to 1 hour or more.

What kind of space can you perform in?

Full Radius Dance has performed everywhere from the hallway of a rustic villa in the Italian countryside to the opulent opera houses of Europe; from a meeting room at the Social Security Administration to school lunchrooms and gymnasiums; from hotel ballrooms to outdoor amphitheaters; and on theatrical stages worldwide. We're happy to customize a performance or workshop to your space.

Does the space have to be accessible?

Yes and no. We can modify the space but ideally we would prefer an accessible venue. If you have questions about what is an accessible venue, please contact [email protected] to determine if we need to modify the performance. We also require site visits in the beginning of all partnerships.

For marketing, how can I make sure I appropriately talk about disability?

If you need training on what to say we can provide this. Training will go over basic inclusive language for representing physically integrated dance and the disability community. We also provide image descriptions, and alt text to all of our images.

The National Center on Disability and Journalism at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School for Journalism and Mass Communication provides an excellent Disability Style Guide: https://ncdj.org/style-guide/

What are a few company highlights?

Company highlights include international touring to Korea, Italy, and Spain. Our 2017 concert “Silver” was performed at the Harlem School of the Arts in NYC as part of the "Disability. Dance. Artistry. Initiative" administered by Dance/NYC. This initiative was founded to advance artistic innovation and excellence— and, by extension, further disability rights. Full Radius Dance was one of six grantees selected from among a competitive pool of 27 companies. The 2018 concert, “Tapestry”, was heralded by ArtsAtl as a “masterwork” and was recorded by The Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library for inclusion in their permanent collection. The division houses the world’s largest archive devoted to the documentation of dance. In May of 2022, the company appeared at the inaugural Forward Festival of the Arts at New York's Queens Theatre. The 2023 - 2024 season included residencies in Miami, FL and at the University of Southern Mississippi.

How many dancers are in your company?

Company size may vary from season to season. At this time, we have a troupe of 9 dancers. For information on the dancers, please visit The Company Members page on our website: https://fullradiusdance.org/members