Gazette: How have things changed for AXIS during the pandemic?

Brew: In March, we were just beginning our assembly program where we go into schools, and students [learn about] ideas and themes around physically integrated dance, accessibility, disability awareness, and contemporary dance. We were going to be touring as well, and that got cancelled. We lost a huge amount of income [from] work that we did, and the work that we had planned. But we were very quick to pivot online. I think being artists, we’re very adaptable. We started to put classes online and really focused on making them accessible. We also did a program called Dance Access Online, which was a reimagining of our Dance Access Day, which normally happens in a theater and we hold two shows a day for two days. We also held our summer Choreo-Lab for disabled choreographers virtually. At the end, we had a showing, which was done online and people were invited to watch. It was amazing to be connected with so many people from all around the world.

It’s been a huge amount of learning for all of us. We’re so used to being in the studio and being onstage and being together in person, and our work is derived from physical contact, partnering work and improvisation. We’ve been doing classes every day virtually and been opening them up to the community as well. But there are restrictions of space and internet access, and it’s been hard emotionally and physically and mentally for people. We’ve really just tried to hold space and listen to people individually about what their needs are and how we can best support them. We miss that physical contact and being able to feed off each other’s energy and that often gets missed in online spaces. But imagine if we didn’t have technology — how much more isolating it would have been.

Gazette: What can participants expect from an AXIS master class?

Brew: When I think of master classes, the first word I think of is fun. The classes are inclusive and create a space for everyone to feel part of the group. We are aware of how we teach and deliver the information in an inclusive way and making it accessible, so everyone feels welcome and a part of the experience. We often use verbal descriptions, as well as imagery and qualities, and demonstrations of different set exercises. At AXIS, we say that if you have a body, you can dance. That’s one thing that I discovered after acquiring my disability 24 years ago: I was still a dancer, and I could still dance and what dance meant to me was expressing myself through movement. Expression is so important, especially in our current world, and it’s also healthy for us to move. The joy of dance can bring that healthy mind, body, and spirit.

Interview was edited for clarity and length.