Inclusive Dance in Azerbaijan

An Interview with Nigar Sultanova of DanceAbility Azerbaijan

Nigar Sultanova is the founder of DanceAbility Azerbaijan, which was founded in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2017. The organization uses the DanceAbility method to offer dance classes to children, teens, and adults with and without disabilities, as well as to both experienced and less experienced dancers. Here, Nigar shares her philosophy of how there is no right or wrong way to dance, and how she has created several inclusive offerings for her Azerbaijani community.

One dancer in a wheelchair and one dancer doing a handstand are in front of an Azerbaijani sign.

Photo courtesy Nigar Sultanova

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Can you tell me a little about your dance history and what shaped who you are today?

Every single stone on our travels shapes us. In my childhood I was introverted. I loved dancing because it gave me the opportunity to travel far from my room or city; I was having so many adventures while I was dancing and moving to music by my own in my room. I guess it was the starting point of why I recognize the value of embodiment and the value of the DanceAbility method.

How did DanceAbility Azerbaijan get started?

“This is the right movement; this is the wrong movement. This shape is not appropriate for a woman, this is appropriate.” I guess I just didn’t belong to this idea or view where there’s so much right and wrong. I truly trust and respect each individual’s own experience. For me, it is as important as breath: inhaling and exhaling freedom. Thats why I fell in love with DanceAbility.

Dancers with and without disabilities posing in front of a sign that says "Azerbaijan."

Photo courtesy Nigar Sultanova

How is DanceAbility Azerbaijan structured? What kinds of classes are offered and how often?

DanceAbility Azerbaijan is an inclusive performance company. All DanceAbility organizations worldwide develop inclusion, diversity, and equality. Our work focuses on decreasing separation and isolation in our communities. We achieve this through the organization of inclusive workshops based on the DanceAbility method, active meditation practices, women sharing circles, English conversation clubs, effective communication webinars, mixed-ability performances, and teacher training programs. We have been operating since 2017 offline and since 2020 online. Online we are able to create more opportunities for participation from different regions of Azerbaijan.

How would you describe the dance scene in Azerbaijan, and how does DanceAbility Azerbaijan fit into that scene? Is there other integrated dance in the country that you know of?

Besides us, we have para dance. We are trying to make arts accessible. We believe that we don’t need to fit into any dance scene. We just do what we believe and are doing it from our hearts. I guess that’s why audiences love us and all our initiatives. We believe that each person needs a safe space for movement exploration and artistic expression.

What are some of the biggest obstacles people with disabilities in Azerbaijan face when trying to access dance opportunities?

The biggest obstacles are accessible infrastructure and professional opportunities in the inclusive education field. The situation is much better than before, but there is still so much more that needs to be done. We are proud that we are making an impact by developing missing parts of the puzzle.

Dancers with and without disabilities sit in a circle and raise both hands.

Photo courtesy Nigar Sultanova

How would you like to expand your work in the future?

For the next three years I’m fully focused on expanding our DanceAbility method training programs so we will have more specialists who will be able to implement the method in their workplaces and lead inclusive movement dance workshops in the region, finally!

We would also like to bring the DanceAbility method into the schools.

Also, because of my corporate background, I created team building practices and an effective communication course, which I would like to share with youth.

And of course, there’s our performance group. I’d love if we could travel more and participate in different festivals to share our stories through dance.

Do you have an upcoming project or focus you want to share more about?

My upcoming focus will be educational: an intensive DanceAbility course for workers in rehabilitation centers. And I would like to add that we are open for collaboration.

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To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/danceabilityazerbaijan.

Headshot of Nigar Sultanova

Photo courtesy Nigar Sultanova