Through Point Dance Ensemble’s outreach program Angie Nyquist and Max Nieman led Modern Dance Classes where Boys and Girls Club members in Stevens Point and Plover spun their ideas together to create a dance celebrating friendship.

As a Teaching Artist at Boys and Girls Club of Portage County, Angie Nyquist used dance to help students build new friendships. In collaboration with students from Boys and Girls Club and Point Dance Ensemble, Open Doors to Friendship explores the process of making new friends, especially with those who are particularly different from us.

“While you can find examples of people with disabilities dancing and performing in groups with nondisabled dancers, it is far less common to see a person with a disability in the role of teacher or choreographer. I wondered what it would be like to see a dance piece through the eyes of a student with disabilities; what if they were the choreographer? I thought of Laura immediately because she has few typical outlets for expressing herself. Laura has visual impairment and Cerebral Palsy. She is also non-verbal and uses a wheelchair. I wanted to see what Laura would create.  This piece is unique because it put Laura in the driver’s seat.  She got to show us what movements should go in the dance.  If you ever get to see Laura watch Olivia dance the piece, it will be obvious to you how delighted she is in how it turned out.” -Angie Nyquist, Choreography Facilitator

Photo credit: Dekaios Designs