Diana Niepce: The Other Side of Dance

In her earlier work, dancer, choreographer and acrobat Diana Niepce explored her journey of self-recovery following a spinal cord injury from a trapeze accident. Since then, she has sought innovative ways to express herself, aiming to integrate the disabled body into mainstream dance. She rigorously tests her own body, using minimal staging and occasional cutting sarcasm to present the non-normative body as revolutionary rather than victimised. Recognised as a compelling figure in Portuguese dance, Niepce describes The Other Side of Dance as ‘a survey of the invisible in dance history’. Drawing inspiration from artists like Bill Shannon, Claire Cunningham and David Toole, she redefines the laws of movement. She is joined on stage by three 'performer assistants' who support her through this intense exploration of an alternative dance history. The performance is followed by an extended discussion with the choreographer, delving into the themes of the work. Presented in collaboration with Dance Umbrella