Newfound Confidence

An Interview with How We Move cohort artist Jackie Robinson

BY EMMALY WIEDERHOLT; PHOTOS BY WHITNEY BROWNE

Jackie Robinson is a pole and sensual flow dancer based in Dallas, TX. She was a 2025 cohort artist of How We Move, a program for multiply marginalized disabled artists to move together, collaborate, and build cross-disability community. Here, Jackie reflects on how she came to dance as an adult, how she learned about access needs through How We Move, and how the program helped her advocate for herself.

This interview is part of a series on How We Move.

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How did you get into dance and what shaped you as an artist?

I was born with cerebral palsy, and I feared dance and any physical activity most of my life. I thought I could never be good enough and was told disabled people don’t do that. I didn’t have representation, especially before social media existed, so I just believed it. I saw Erin Clark perform pole dancing as a wheelchair user on YouTube, and I thought maybe there is a space for me. The infantilization of disabled people, coupled with my youthful appearance and short stature, resulted in me unable to see an adult version of myself when I looked in the mirror. Pole dancing attracted me because of the sensual nature, which could potentially help me explore my femininity and sexuality. Having a dynamic physical disability means I am constantly paying attention to the changes in my body and mobility, and using dance as a method to explore that. I took my first dance class in February 2021 as an adult, so I’m still relatively new to dance.

What was your experience of How We Move?

How We Move was life-changing to me. I learned about access needs and what being accessible truly means. I finally got to dance in space that allowed me to be my raw, authentically disabled self. It helped me understand the power we have as disabled artists to disrupt the dance industry. I’ve made so many friends who are now like family to me. I also had an opportunity to immerse myself in new movement styles. The workshop I gave on accessibility in physical dance spaces was the very first workshop I’ve ever given in my life, and I couldn’t think of a safer space to have that experience.

Navigating New York in my wheelchair was hard on my arms. I mentioned this when we were discussing access needs one morning, and everyone offered to help push my wheelchair to help me preserve my energy. I am so used to taking care of my own needs, and this experience helped me understand I should start asking for help more.

Why are programs like How We Move important?

Opportunities for disabled artists to move together can be hard to find. Many of us live in able-bodied centric spaces and have no idea what true access is or what it could be. We don’t all have access to a disability community, and some that exist are lacking BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation, which can be quite isolating. Things won’t change unless we start advocating for things to change. Programs like this help us explore new ways to advocate, learn from others’ experiences, and create support systems so that we can encourage change in our local communities. We also learn more about the needs of the disability community and how we can best support other disabled people.

Will your experience of How We Move impact your artistic practice going forward? If so, how?

I can be insecure about my artistry, especially since I started dancing as an adult. I have a newfound confidence as I’ve learned what makes my artistry unique and what my strengths are. There is an untapped potential I didn’t even realize I had until I received the support from How We Move. I am ready to start creating bigger goals using my art to impact the dance industry.

What’s next for you? Do you have an upcoming project or focus you’d like to share more about?

Dance has been more of a hobby outside of my career as a mobile software engineer (Android), but I want to make dance a larger focal point in my life. I’m reenergized by this experience and still figuring out how I want to use this energy and what I’ve learned. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I have ideas in the works. As of right now, I’ve recently performed at the Rollettes Experience Boundless Talent Showcase in LA, which is inclusive of all genders and disabilities, and I’m scheduled to perform at Backstage Access, an event in Dallas celebrating disabled and neurodivergent artists.

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To learn more about How We Move, visit www.embracedbody.com/hwm

Follow Jackie on Instagram @polingwithcp.

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