collaborator perspectives: IDEA Inclusion Project

M. Wayne Dyer, Professor of Art & Design, East Tennessee State University

The moments before the unveiling are the most tense. The array of panels monolithically stands motionless and gives meaning and understanding to "The Law."

The performers are excited, jittery, poised for action and almost breathless until the silence is broken by the soundscape: raucus sounds of children, teachers, lockers slamming, sounds that are familiar in educational settings. All of the planning and hard-earned sweat, concern, and worry are dissipated in a multi-sensory moment when it is clear that control is now relinquished into the feet of the dancers. The sound, moves, and gestures give the impression of a public school environment.

Then the dancers begin: they embrace the IDEA law with their actions and their touches, until they group together as a circle. To illustrate exclusion one dancer is expelled and then attempts to come back into the circle with several frustrated attempts but no success. The segregated dancer moves to another part of the dance floor and collapses in a heap, illustrating only too poignantly the hurt involved with being excluded.

But then we see a change. The young people in what was the exclusionary circle begin to move in a compassionate spiral, around and around to encompass the segregated student. The group embraces the lone dancer and lifts him high. At that moment, the music changes to a more melodic and poetic form to illustrate the value and importance of being included.

The dancers have all moved as if they have magical wings attached to their feet. The event has spun past, and before one could ponder, delight in, or absorb the vision, it is but a memory. Applause fills the void and our motley group of co-creators are left with the success, the performance, the law still standing tall on its panels, and the jubilant students beaming and bowing to their enthusiastic audience.

collaborator reflections continued | 1 of 4 | next >