This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Dance and the Disabled: A Scotch Plains Native's Work with Developmentally-Challenged Adults Helps Make the Process Possible

Professional Scotch Plains dancer, Heather Johdos, works with developmentally disabled adults to bring their artistic visions to life.

It’s easy to have an appreciation for dance. Dancers use movement, technique, and sentiment to stir emotion. Arms, legs, and torsos turn and lift in any way the dancer commands. That kind of control over the body, however, is not the case for adults with developmental disabilities. But Scotch Plains native Heather Johdos, who has been dancing since the age of 3 and teaching the art form for twelve years, is using her love of dance and experience to assist disabled adults in choreographing and performing their own dances.

As one of the dance facilitators at Matheny Medical & Educational Center’s Arts Access Program, Johdos aids clients in finding movements and patterns for the dances they want to create. A specially-designed charting system is used to help with the process. As part of the department’s creative movement component, Johdos works with clients as they take on dance in a unique way. Here, the disabled artists use imagery, music, and patterns to participate in free form dancing.

The Arts Access Program’s annual Full Circle show highlights the results of some of these artists’ hard work, and what a wide-ranging body of work it is. From stage-combat pieces and ethereal dances to country hoedown-inspired and dream-influenced works, Arts Access participants have tackled it all.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

   This year’s Full Circle 2012: Unexpected Art will be no different. In addition to dance, other art forms that will be highlighted include drama, fine art, and creative writing. Johdos is acting as stage manager for the performance, which will take place Saturday, November 3, 2012. Her responsibilities include making sure that all backstage activities for the show run smoothly. She’ll expedite communication between the performers and the production (lighting and sound) crew.

   The annual Full Circle show dispels the limitations associated with the disabled population and gives the public the opportunity to experience the creations of the Arts Access artists. Artist Dan Fenelon, who has curated Full Circle for the past 3 years, curates this year’s multi-media fine art show. He has created murals for the Luna Stage Theatre in West Orange, the Montclair Art Museum, and for the Newark Peace Education Summit which featured a visit by the Dalai Lama. Full Circle 2012 is dedicated to the memory of former Matheny President Robert Schonhorn. Mr. Schonhorn was instrumental in fostering the arts for adults with developmental disabilities.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

   Heather Johdos brings a wealth of experience to Full Circle. She is a member of the National Society of Arts and Letters, teaches dance in Chatham, and performs in school systems with “Dancing Through the Ages,” an interactive show that highlights dancing and the history of dance. She also serves on the board for Dance Innovations Performance Foundation.

   Full Circle 2012: Unexpected Art will take place at the Robert Schonhorn Arts Center from 3-6pm. Matheny is located at 65 Highland Avenue in Peapack, NJ 07977.

   For ticket information, call 908-234-0011 ext. 260 or email pcats@matheny.org. Visit the Arts Access Web site at www.artsaccessprogram.org. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?