Cie SmARTS
Project and mission
With Cie SmARTS, international tap-dance choreographer Roxane Butterfly and her teenage daughter Zuly (who has Down syndrome), team up to make their artistic expertise in the field of tap-dance and theater, accessible to all.
Tap-dance is an elaborate discipline which emphasizes rhythm thru movement. Its practice helps concrete-learners such as people with down syndrome (who generally lack abstraction), to access a wider range of concepts (volume, speed, weight, sequencing, direction … ) otherwise foreign to them. It also helps them better their concentration and socializing skills, while reinforcing their self-esteem.
Cie SmARTS is a not-for-profit organization, currently based in Paris. The company tours internationally offering workshops and performances.
The Show
Thru rhythm and movement, choreographer Roxane Butterfly engages a liberating conversation with her daughter who has Down Syndrome. Rooted in slavery, tap-dance reconnects here with its very essence as a language of empowerment.
(The show is available in French, English & Spanish)
A different kind of workshop
Whereas most inclusive dance projects are led by professionals who “adapt” their pedagogy to individuals with special needs, Cie SmARTS places Zuly (who has down syndrome), in the expert teacher’s position. All profiles of students are welcome. Roxane provides assistance when needed. Classes are basic/beginner tap-level.
