Accessibility in the Arts at Juilliard

By Alicia Graf Mack

Last year, the Dance Division hosted Juilliard’s first relaxed performance, showcasing selected works from New Dances: Edition 2023. As a school committed to inclusivity, I felt that hosting a performance specifically designed to be more welcoming for people with sensory, communication, learning, or movement needs was paramount to our mission of providing a sense of belonging for all.

Hosted by two fourth-year dancers, the performance began by providing verbal context for the audience about what they would see, hear, and experience. Although we didn’t change the production value or content, several adjustments in the theater helped create a more relaxed environment. We adjusted the brightness of the houselights, allowing audience members to move around the theater more freely. Throughout the performance, ushers guided anyone needing a break from the stimulation of the theater to sensory stations in the lobby. I was so pleased to witness the positive, visceral reactions from the audience, knowing that our students were making indelible moments of artistry and connection.

I look forward to hosting our second relaxed performance on December 13. It’s part of New Dances: Edition 2024. The first-years will perform the choreography of Houston Thomas with music by Ravel and alumnus Francesco Tristano, and the second-years will perform the choreography of Jennifer Freeman, an autistic artist, with music by Jacob Rock, a teenage nonverbal autistic composer.

And, of course, we’d also love to see you at the full New Dances: Edition 2024 performances, which take place December 11–15. In addition to the first- and second-year pieces, the third-years will perform a piece by Arnhold Creative Associates Pam Tanowitz (choreography) and Caroline Shaw (music). The concert closes with the fourth-year work, choreographed by Yue Yin.

Alicia Graf Mack is the dean and director of the Dance Division

New Dances: Edition 2024 Relaxed Performance 
December 13 at 11am

New Dances: Edition 2024 
December 11–15