CRIP CHOREO CARE

Introduction to Prof. Claire Cunningham and her artistic research

In the picture, Claire can be seen in profile in the foreground on the left. She is sitting on the handles of her two elbow crutches as if on a bar stool and is wearing training clothes and a grey cap. Her hand is open in a gesture with the palm facing upwards in front of her chest. Next to her, i.e. behind her in the photo, is a sign language interpreter. Opposite her, on the right-hand side of the picture, about ten people are sitting and standing in a row next to each other in front of a window through which bright light falls. Some of them have their heads resting on their hands, others have their hands folded. They appear to be listening intently to Claire. One of the people on the far right of the row, who uses a wheelchair, seems to be talking to Claire. The two are looking directly at each other. The person's white T-shirt reads ‘Today is a good day for dancing.’.
© Almuth Elhardt

From 2023-2028 internationally renowned self-identifying disabled artist, the Scottish choreographer, performer and singer Claire Cunningham, is Einstein Professor of Choreography, Dance and Disability Arts at Inter-University Centre for Dance Berlin (HZT).

As part of her professorship, Claire Cunningham will be undertaking new artistic research, and dedicated periods of teaching at the HZT, for an initial five years. She will be supported by some of her long-term collaborators, as well as working on the ground in Berlin with some new associates, guest disabled artists, experts and allies.

TEAM

Susanne Adam, Angela Alves, Leo Naomi Baur, Prof. Claire Cunningham, Agnes Ehlich, Luke Pell, Nadja Dias, Vicky Wilson

CONTACT
Throughout the span of this Einstein Strategic Professorship Claire and her team are keen to meet, connect, share, exchange and un/learn together with students and staff from the HZT Berlin, HfS Ernst Busch, UdK Berlin and the Berlin dance scene, as well as with other partners in choreography, dance and disability arts worldwide. If you would like to be added to their mailing list please email s.adam[at]hzt-berlin.de.

Choreography of Care

Claire Cunningham is renowned for her deliberate use, and misuse, of her crutches as an extension of her dancing body. Her developing framework - the Choreography of Care - is an artistic response to questions arising from her critical reflection on normativity. Cunningham says this is about “practices of attention and observation, informed by the lived experience of disability and by crip, queer and feminist thinking. The opportunity to share the work, techniques and practices of disabled dance artists and choreographers with students; to place these lines in a prestigious European dance and arts institution and to support the education of disabled dancers and choreographers is a tremendously exciting task for me. I am looking forward to deepening my own research in a new constellation of colleagues and students in Berlin.”

The Einstein Strategic Professorship in Choreography, Dance and Disability Arts is primarily concerned with furthering Claire’s ongoing contribution to artistic research. Three core thematic concerns run throughout her enquiry - CRIP* CHOREO CARE - they serve as an umbrella title for the team and their activity across this period. Over time, Claire’s research, team and presence will also contribute to initiating and supporting gradual processes of change and transformation - towards accessible, anti-ableist, crip positive futures in choreography and dance education - at the HZT, with partner institutions, and the Berlin dance scene more broadly.

The Strategic Professorships from the Einstein Foundation Berlin support the appointment of top researchers from abroad of outstanding strategic importance for Berlin as a centre of science and research. This is the first time the Foundation has awarded the Einstein Strategic Professorship to a disabled activist, artist and an arts university.

*Crip is a political and cultural identity used by some people with disabilities.

Over the five years Claire Cunningham and her team will:

  • Research by creating and touring new artistic works including: Songs of the Wayfarer, as well as offering dedicated teaching and seminar formats at the HZT, that further her ongoing artistic research into crip expertise and perspectives in dance, choreography and disability arts. 

  • Host two gatherings - Bodies of Knowledge: Choreographies of Care - as alternative formats to traditional symposia. Bringing together artists and experts from different fields connected, and in response, to her research and developing framework ‘The Choreography of Care’

  • Support crip and disabled identifying artists and allies to undertake and expand their own artistic research 

  • Develop strategic partnerships; research, development and collaborative projects in Berlin and Europe

  • Share practice via dedicated public talks, workshop activities, articles and publications and introduce alternative teaching and learning formats