At This Ballet Company, the Priority Is Dancers’ Mental Health

At Azara Ballet, dancers are not expected to make eye contact with the director or choreographer. If troupe members need a quick break from the harsh stage lights during rehearsals, they can take a break. You will also receive clear instructions regarding your hair and makeup well in advance of the performance.

priority in Azara It’s the dancer’s health. Founded in 2022 by autistic dancers Kate Flowers and Martin Roussale, the company is based in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida, and has become a haven for neurodivergent performers. . (The company is made up of 10 dancers, but not all of them are neurodivergent.)

“When you’re dancing, nonverbal movement expression can be very helpful, as long as it’s in a good environment and a safe space,” Flowers said.

Azara addresses a gap in the dance world: the need for spaces where people with autism, ADHD, or other conditions that fall under the broad definition of “neurodivergence” can freely experience the art form. Both anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests a deep relationship between dance and these neurological symptoms. This relationship has become an area of ​​increasing interest for researchers, artists, and performing arts organizations in recent years.

In November, Azara gathered for a run-through of the show “Voices of Azara” at the Black Box Theater, where the show will soon be held. The atmosphere in the theater was both lively and calm, with dancers warming up, reviewing their steps, and chatting. There seemed to be subdued lighting, a pleasantly cool air, and an innate awareness of the performers’ loudness.

To begin rehearsals, Roussale outlined the schedule for the next three hours to the dancers. I then looked through four pieces, all by company members, before receiving my notes. When the dancers performed, the music was never overwhelmingly loud and they never yelled out corrections.