Supporting Innovation in Inclusive Performance: AXIS Dance Company’s Kinematic/Kinesthetic
Team Access, powered by Omeo, is proud to support artists, designers, and organizations pushing the boundaries of inclusion in the performing arts. Through Team Access’s partnership with AXIS, we were able to facilitate the use of an Omeo forOne recent example is AXIS Dance Company’s latest production, Kinematic/Kinesthetic—a powerful exploration of how assistive technologies can redefine both the aesthetics and mechanics of contemporary dance.
AXIS Dance Company has long been a pioneer in physically integrated dance, creating innovative performances that embrace dancers with and without disabilities. In Kinematic/Kinesthetic, they expand this vision even further by incorporating robotic and mobility devices—not as passive supports, but as active collaborators in the creative process.
Technology as Choreography
Team Access facilitated the relationship between AXIS Dance Company and Omeo, enabling the integration of the hands-free mobility device into the performance. The Omeo, designed to enhance independence and movement for wheelchair users, became more than just a tool in this context—it became an extension of choreographic expression.
This aligns with one of the most striking aspects of the piece: the idea that technology can become choreography. Through close collaboration with engineers and designers, the performers learned to listen and respond to the mechanics of each device, giving rise to a unique vocabulary of movement. Telescoping crutches, robotic hexapods, and the Omeo all contributed to a layered performance in which human and machine
Amplifying Access and Expression
Kinematic/Kinesthetic premiered at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, offering audiences a compelling and provocative vision of the future of dance. The performance asked: what if assistive devices weren’t hidden or minimized, but showcased—highlighted as beautiful, functional, and deeply expressive components of a dancer’s identity?
This work was not only a dance performance, but a statement of values. It invited audiences to consider disability not as a limitation, but as a source of creative possibility. And it demonstrated how access, when centered and embraced, can lead to entirely new forms of artistic expression.
Featured in The New York Times
The performance caught national attention and was recently featured in The New York Times. The article, titled “With Telescoping Crutches and Hexapod Legs, Dance Goes New Places,” highlights the technologies used—including the Omeo—and delves into how AXIS is helping reshape perceptions of movement, ability, and art.
Our Commitment to Inclusive Possibility
As part of Team Access, we are committed to supporting programs and partnerships like this one—where our technology can help open doors and amplify what’s possible. AXIS Dance Company’s work is a powerful reminder that accessibility is not a side project—it’s a source of innovation. When inclusive design intersects with artistic vision, the results can expand what’s possible not only on stage, but in the broader culture as well.
We are honored that the Omeo could play a role in this performance and look forward to continuing to support inclusive creators who are reimagining the future of movement, performance, and public space.
Learn More About AXIS Dance
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Supporting Innovation in Inclusive Performance: AXIS Dance Company's Kinematic/Kinesthetic
