AN AUTISTIC MOVEMENT DIARY: UNIFY THROUGH CREATIVITY 2023

Hi again, folks! Here for another #DiamondzDialogue as we reflect on our past as we move closer to our 'A Night at the Awards' | Diamondz Dance! Movement is so preciously necessary for my life and I want to share with you some ways in which movement in its various forms can empower, challenge and ultimately be a platform for change… Physical – As a passionate ‘parkour person,’ the correlation between dance and parkour is not only evidenced in its flow but also its multisensory exploration of incorporating environmental elements. Being autistic, my sensory profile can be different to others (though of course, all of our sensory profiles vary and have their own beautiful nuances), but when I mention this, I do so to recognise the particular implications it can have on autistic folk (like me), dancers, colleagues and the wider community alike. However, the physical elements of parkour transcend smoothly to dance as much as they can challenge the sensory system.  If I were a student and I had to be in close proximity to others for long periods of time, I might struggle but that doesn’t mean I cannot do it. One of Diamondz’ greatest strengths is personalising people’s movement diaries, their journeys through dance and I’ve seen firsthand how compassionate and connected they are. Needing certain sensory feedback to regulate, for me this might look like running my hands along a rough textures or pacing which involves physical space, is essential for someone like me to actively participate in a class, event or any other commitment. Being mindful of our sensory profiles and what regulates us is only helps us to understand ourselves and execute tasks whether it’s parkour, dance or anything else in life. Just don’t expect flips any time soon, parkour is more than that. Dance is too. Mental and Cultural – I have combined these 2 because they are truly entwined for me and I’ll explain why with a personal anecdote. It was February 2023. The piece was called Flow. Now, I’ve mentioned on Instagram and other social media platforms before (follow @DiamondzDance to connect with our community and get updates!) but the knowledge exchange that formed part of the process for constructing the collaborative dance piece between Abbi, the Senior performers and myself was genuinely life-affirming and generationally poignant. Having such young minds learn about stimming (broadly summarised as anything to regulate and to feel good as an autistic person), was incredible and it’s these early conversations around adding feeling into a performance that makes the difference with Diamondz.  Educating students on the autistic pride flag and utilising it within the piece had never, to my knowledge, been done locally before but there we were, embracing the stage collectively as one. I spoke about how dance is a universal language and does not require social ‘norms’ that in society can be so difficult for many autistic people to interpret and therefore feel oppressed by it. It didn’t matter in this moment. As we stood behind the curtain, I absorbed everything. Perhaps it was the emotional significance of The Everything that made me fumble my words slightly on the Sunday. Did you notice? Maybe you did but living authentically is integral to my being and rather than avoid the issue, I’ll address it here. I was temporarily lost in the moment, my memory lapsed, but as I was in the huddle of students, one individual told me “It’s okay.” The simplicity of that reassurance was all I needed and reminded me of where I was both in the poem but in life. I remember joking during the studio sessions (I think in relation to the WiFi but maybe to the movements we were developing together) that just like it, I had felt disconnected all my life. It was an honest take on things but I have never felt more heard, more ‘found’ than in those moments. And so I close with this; dance is so much more than a show. It's a reflection of our beautifully diverse humanity. QUESTION TIME: What helps you harness your creativity? Until next month…check out these blogs in the meantime! BLOG | Diamondz Dance Join the conversation with your thoughts and feelings on our socials with #DiamondzDialogue