Is disability perceived when confronted with an idea of normality? Why is the body outside the norm considered a victim? Or why is this body required to occupy the place of a warrior? A round table brings together the Italian performer Diana Anselmo, the dancer and choreographer Diana Niepce, and the English choreographer Marc Brew, to reflect on trajectories, perspectives, and experiences of violence exercised on the body outside the norm, problematising practices of social exclusion and thinking about good inclusion practices and the creative work of artists with disabilities.

Diana Anselmo is an anti-ableism and trans-queer intersectional feminist activist, vice-president and co-founder of Al.Di.Qua.Artists (ALternative DIsability QUAlities Artists) and youngest member of the British Council's Cultural Advisory Board.

Diana Niepce is a choreographer, dancer, researcher, writer, and crip activist known for her projects which delve deep into the limits of the body, movement, and dance itself.

Marc Brew is currently artistic director of Marc Brew Company and associate artistic director of Ballet Cymru, and was artistic director of AXIS Dance Company between 2017 and 2021.

*We pay tribute to the dancer Mickaella Dantas, who would have been part of this conversation. We thank her for the lifelong dedication to dance and contemporary circus. 

Mickaella Dantas* worked between dance and contemporary circus. She has collaborated with Candoco Dance Company, Dançando com a Diferença, Yasmeen Godder, Jérôme Bel, Jeanine Durning, and Abigail Yager. She collaborated with the Instituto Nacional de Artes do Circo, Acesso Cultura, and with choreographers Sara Anjo and Clara Andermatt.