Theory

“Should we reset everything now that we got until here?” – Foreword. Part I

„More than aiming at describing an inspiring project, these pages want to provide useful tools to face the time to come, in which reclaiming corporeity, proximity and empathy will be a central aspect of the reconstruction of collective living.” – Part II p 8.

The scientific texts of Chiara Bersani and Marta Montanini (Corpoceleste, Italy) are a continuation of academic education for mixed abled trainers. It goes far beyond what can be imagined in the different partner countries and thus acts as visionary tools for a challenging now.

„And so? In this precipitous loss of meaning, what can survive of this work?” – Part II p 5.

„In the same pages, we claimed that the paradigm of distance education as a copy-paste version of in-presence education needs to be reinvented. That is why we chose to reflect on the concepts of correspondence and transmission, instead of limiting ourselves to transform the workshop into stream lessons or webinars.” – Part II p 6.

„(…) it seemed us more appropriate to provide a series of hints and suggestions that can be useful to anyone dealing with disability, performance and training with adult students, rather than to develop a standardized curriculum.”- p 7.

“Disability, education and performing art in fragile times. Challenging reflections from the pandemic starting from a workshop that could not be held.” and “Consolidating a practice and passing it on. Understanding trough the body.” are presented as a main part of the theoretical work of the DOOL Project.

The papers outline a framework and a practical methodology that “would merge disability studies with performing art studies and critical pedagogy” at university level. The papers reflect on the dramatic COVID situation and its impact on the artists’ daily lives and work. So COVID is always also part of their analysis:

“The lockdown did not only stop our projects and work, but reduced our mobility and possibility of occupying and engaging in the public space. Our bodies have literally disappeared from the streets, the public meetings and gathering spaces have disappeared too.” – Chapter 4. Part I

Theory and practice go hand in hand in these papers. A learning through the body for students of all abilities is promoted for university students for reflecting on bodies, identity and on society as a whole.

Disability, education and performing art in fragile times. Challenging reflections from the pandemic starting from a workshop that could not be held. Part I (PDF English)

Disability, education and performing art in fragile times. Challenging reflections from the pandemic starting from a workshop that could not be held. Part I (PDF Italian)

Consolidating a practice and passing it on. Understanding through the body.  Part II (PDF English)

Consolidating a practice and passing it on. Understanding through the body.  Part II (PDF Italian)