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Chinese Disabled Performing Arts Troupe Tours USA
The 50 member Performing Arts Troupe of the Chinese Disabled Persons Federation dazzled audiences across the United States in a September tour that included the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York and the Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco.
Founded in 1986, the Troupe's current performance includes poetry recited in sign language, piano solos, Beijing opera, instrumental ensembles, acrobatics by amputees, deaf dancers and a grand finale overseen by a conductor with Down Syndrome. Altogether, 12 acts mixing traditional and contemporary Chinese dance and music are presented.
New Reality Festival, Britain
From September 25-October 30 a New Reality Festival of Disability Arts is taking place in Teesside, Britain. A September 13 press release described the highlights as: a new presentation of Of Mice and Men by Mind the Gap; Seal Boy: Freak, a totally new work by the star of Chanel 4's Freak Out, Mat Fraser; and Buffon not Bouffant, a disability cabaret performance.
The event is being sponsored by the Millennium Festival and a full listing of performances and exhibits can be read online at www.openarts.org.uk
Irish Radio Series
on Disability
Rites
& Passages
Mary Duffy, well-known performance artist from Ireland, has produced a series of radio programs on "Disability Rites and Passages" for RTE Radio 1. Beginning September 24, the four programs are being broadcast on successive Sunday evenings.
The first one traces the lives of three disability activists÷Donal Toolan, Rosalee McDonaghl and Martin Naughton÷exploring how their personal experiences have shaped their adult lives.
The other three programs
examine: the early years, the teenage years, and intimacy and love.
Details on the web: www.rte.ie/radio/ritesandpassages/ritesandpassages.html
Email: duffym@rte.ie
or phone 353 01 281 0839.
Arts
& Media/briefly:
Opportunities for
Performance Artists at Deaf Expo, November, Long Beach USA
The world's largest independent consumer trade show aimed at the deaf and hard of hearing market, Deaf Expo, is taking place November 17-19 in Long Beach, California. The event organizers are still booking performance artists and details are availableon the web at www.deafexpo.org or via email: Expoware@aol.com
European "Breaking Barriers" Award to be Presented in December 4 Media Event
In celebration of the European Day of Disabled Persons, the European Union will hold an awards ceremony on December 4 in Brussels to recognize outstanding progress in "Breaking Barriers." Nominations have been entered for individuals and employers who have worked to reduce employment barriers to disabled persons.
Film crews will be assigned in advance to video achievements of the finalists and clips will be shown at the evening gala. Details available at www.edf-feph.org
Conference on Art
& Accessibility
December,
Oakland, California
A conference on Art & Accessibility will be held December 14-16 in Oakland, California by the Western States Arts Federation. Under the management of Pamela Walker, nationally known leader in arts and disability, the event will explore the theme, "From Insight to Innovation: Art and Accessibility in the West."
The symposium is deigned to provide accessibility education and consultation to state arts agency staff and the staffs of arts service organizations to improve access to quality arts experiences for older Americans and those with disabilities.
Registration is $150 if received before October 31. The Conference is being sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation and the Pacific Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center. Additional details on the web at www.westaf.org or phone 303 629-1166.
Downhill Dilly---Online Game
Downhill Dilly is reputed to be the first online game featuring a disabled character. Dilly is heading downhill in an out of control wheelchair with no brakes. It runs on both PC and Mac and requires Shockwave to play. Check it out at http://ndaf.org/game.html
Non-Traditional Casting Project
A story about the Non-Traditional Casting Project, based in New York, N.Y., appeared recently on the disability web portal, www.ican.com
The main resource of the project, directed by Sharon Jensen, is a talent bank of about 6000 profiles of actors representing minority or disability communities. Details by email: infor@ntcp.org; fax 212 730 4820 or TDD 212 730 4913.
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