ABSTRACT
Enabling initiatives that promote access and inclusion in dance classes and performances for Singapore’s young people with diverse abilities are featured in this chapter through case study examples. The ecology involves communities, peak organisations and professional arts projects that have a commitment to offering opportunities for social engagement, personal expression and development through dance. The approaches to open the space for inclusivity to give more access to dance are various; they may evolve from ground up awareness of a need led by individuals, while others respond to government directives in the education sector, or their aims and objectives may be reflective of larger directional influences from other countries. Although some inclusive dance performance projects by local companies have been staged locally, professional companies that exist in many overseas countries (such as Candoco in the UK and Restless Dance Theatre in Australia) for professional artists currently do not exist in Singapore. Programmes for the performing arts (not specifically dance) are included across the school system and community opportunities for young people with special needs are evolving; however, the dance scene for young people with diverse abilities remains fragmented.
