ConCuerpos is the pioneering inclusive dance company from Colombia
Since 2007 we develop artistic, educational, and research projects. Our aim is to offer inclusive and accessible dance opportunities for people with and without disabilities.
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Since 2007 we develop artistic, educational, and research projects. Our aim is to offer inclusive and accessible dance opportunities for people with and without disabilities.
ConCuerpos is the pioneering contemporary dance company in Colombia that includes diverse dancers -with and without disabilities- in their creative work. The company’s political commitment includes breaking down barriers of participation, transforming static notions about dance, and contributing new ethics and aesthetics to the socio-cultural context. ConCuerpos artistic proposal puts singularity first and values difference. At the same time, ConCuerpos seeks to open new creative horizons with each work, proposing innovative and high-quality productions.
Since 2009 ConCuerpos has created professional level dances, both with national and international guest choreographers, as well as from the group’s own exploration. Currently, the company has its fourth cast of dancers, with whom they develop collective creation methods, a training program for professional dancers in the inclusive context, and research on the aesthetics of access.
In the educational area, ConCuerpos creates opportunities for accessible dance training, that allow people with and without disabilities to explore their bodies, expand their movement potential, and establish creative relationships. We offer a permanent Class in Bogotá, an annual Training Workshop for Trainers, a specific training program for the company’s dancers and, we hold special workshops. All these activities have been carried out, since 2015, under the Dance for Diversity project.
The special workshops are the result of alliances with organisations in the field of dance and inclusion, adapting the contents to the specific needs of each group.
In the academic field, ConCuerpos has always carried out documentation of all its activities. This follow-up nurtures the research projects we develop on inclusive dance. We contribute written reflections to the discussion of the body, disability, inclusion and dance. ConCuerpos has published several articles, and the books “Cuerpos Potentes” and “Incluyendo al Cuerpo”. Likewise, we have contributed to several undergraduate and graduate thesis both in Colombia and internationally.
Founder members: Paulina Avellaneda, Carolina Caballero and Laisvie Andrea Ochoa.
Previous dancers – extended family:
Felipe León, Michel Tarazona, Maria José Rodriguez, Felipe León, Veronica Toro, Paula Andrea Ocampo, Mónica Jaramillo, Alejandro Penagos, Margarita Gómez, Catherine Busk, Stephanie Lievano, Jhon Jairo Vanegas, Rachel Paul, Ronald Solano, Aldona Beltrán, Luisa Martínez.
The project was born in 2007 thanks to the initiative of Meghan Flanigan and Laisvie Andrea Ochoa to introduce integrated / inclusive dance in Colombia. In April of that year, with the support of the British Council, CIREC and Espacio Ambimental, experts Charlotte Darbyshire and Welly O’Brien from the United Kingdom were invited to offer the first integrated contemporary dance workshop in the country. Thanks to the success of this first project, ConCuerpos was born, with the initial support of the British Council.
In 2009, Laisvie Andrea Ochoa, Paulina Avellaneda and Carolina Caballero formalised the Organisation with its three areas: educational, artistic and research. That same year the company was born and since 2010 the Permanent Class has been established in Bogota. In 2013, the Teacher Training Workshop began to be offered annually.
Since 2012, Laisvie Andrea has been the director of ConCuerpos, always with the support of the members of the company. Since 2018 Diana Leon became the Artistic Director working closely with Laisvie as a power duo.