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OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

We have learned alongside our Community Partners as they have faced challenges, overcome barriers, and achieved extraordinary successes. Find out more about each project and the outcomes below.

YEAR

2015

GRANT CATEGORY

Culture

GRANT AMOUNT

$80,000

Art Spark Texas (fka VSA Texas)

Organization:

Art Spark Texas (fka VSA Texas)

Art Spark Texas (fka VSA Texas)

Project Title:

Body Shift

Project Description:   

Recognized on a national level for excellent and groundbreaking programming, VSA Texas is specifically designed to serve per year 10,000 adults and children over age five who often face physical, social and attitudinal barriers to participation in the arts. Their goal is to provide support and training to the public, enhance personal growth, and offer everyone access to engaging and cutting edge creative work by people of all abilities. 


The Impact Austin grant will be used to fund the Body Shift program. Body Shift is VSA Texas’ nationally unique program in mixed-ability dance led in partnership with Forklift Danceworks. Mixed-ability dance is part of both the disability culture and contemporary dance movements. By leading improvisational dance classes and creating performances where bodies of all kinds are embraced and celebrated, VSA Texas seeks to decrease the prejudice and misconceptions about disability in the field of dance and in society at large and improve the health and well-being of all of the participants.

Grant Status:   

VSA Texas reached a larger and more diverse population than ever before with the Impact Austin grant.

  • Two staff members devoted to expanding the Body Shift programs and outreach were hired.

  • 80-100 new people were attracted to twice-monthly classes (Body Shift’s introductory class “Elements”), choreography labs, and performances.

  • 21 workshops and performances were held, mixing able-bodied dancers and those with disabilities

  • Collaborators included Town Lake YMCA, Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, Texas School for the Blind, Rosedale School, and the UT Department of Theatre and Dance.

  • 4 long-time Body Shift participants were invited to take part in dance performances created by local dance artists.


Body Shift was the only physically integrated group included alongside ten other dance collectives that performed at Ballet Austin Studios in the Austin Dance Festival. This growth would not have been possible without support from Impact Austin.


VSA Texas is now Art Spark Texas.

For More Information:   

Related Reports:

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Impact Austin, P.O. Box 28148, Austin, TX 78755  |  contact@impactaustin.org  |  Tel: 512-553-6083  |  Join our mailing list!

© Impact Austin Foundation

Impact Austin Foundation is incorporated in the state of Texas and is a nonprofit organization exempt from federal taxes under U.S. Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3). Contributions are tax deductible.  EIN 56-2367666.

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