I have just returned from Beijing, China on my first international tour with The Dancing Wheels Company at the 2019 Luminous Festival!
The Luminous Festival is China’s first disability-led performing arts festival, and it was incredible to be a part of this historic festival and join in on this international discussion regarding inclusivity in the arts.
I am still amazed that I would have an opportunity like this a few months after graduating undergrad. I also have been given the opportunity through Dancing Wheels to choreograph a work based on my experiences on the trip and also taking influence from art being currently showcased at moCa Cleveland by Liu Wei. I am looking forward to creating a solo to be performed in December based on my trip at moCa Cleveland in “East Meets West…A Tale of Two Cities”. Thankfully when I was not dancing or in rehearsal, I was also able to play tourist on the trip and explore what Beijing had to offer. With the group, I saw the much loved pandas at the zoo, walked around the Forbidden City, visited shopping districts, admired some beautiful architecture, and wandered around a few gardens in the city. I wish I could have had another week to see more.
Local news coverage of the Dancing Wheels Tour to Beijing:
https://fox8.com/2019/09/16/clevelands-dancing-wheels-company-to-perform-in-china/
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/dancing-wheels-company-completes-historic-tour-of-china/95-a8656761-3c4a-4c13-9a01-3a9713239783
Marissa Thomas 