AXIS Dance Company

AXIS Dance Company AXIS exists to redefine dance and disability.
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Prepare to leave all your preconceptions at the door — AXIS Dance Company, one of the world’s most innovative ensembles of performers with and without disabilities, will change the way you think about the possibilities of the human body forever.

What does community care look like in your spaces?Accessibility is often talked about as a service. We think of it as a ...
06/16/2026

What does community care look like in your spaces?

Accessibility is often talked about as a service. We think of it as a relationship.

At its best, accessibility creates the conditions for people to care for one another, participate fully, and show up as themselves. Many of the practices we now recognize as accessibility emerged from disabled communities finding ways to support each other when existing systems fell short.

Community care isn't a side effect of access. It's one of its greatest strengths.

Photo by Steve Disenhof

Dancers Hannah Westbrook, JanpiStar, Julie Hasushi, Alaja Badalich



Image Description:
Bold white text reads Accessibility is Community Care, layered under an image of four disabled, non-disabled and neurodivergent dancers captured in motion with humor an dynamic energy, wearing coordinated grey costumes.

06/09/2026

Hear us out...

Footage from AXIS' 2025 Summer Intensive accessible ballet workshop 🩰



Video Description:
Video of a diverse group of dancers and students, disabled and non-disabled, participating in an accessible ballet workshop at AXIS dance studio. Some students plié on the ground with their upper or lower limbs, while others plié standing or seated in chairs / wheelchairs. Overlaid text reads: "What if dance was for everyone?"

Accessibility is not an add-on. When prioritized, it can become a vital part of the creative process itself.Captions, AS...
06/03/2026

Accessibility is not an add-on. When prioritized, it can become a vital part of the creative process itself.

Captions, ASL interpretation, audio description, visual descriptions, and other access tools are often treated as things added after a work is already complete. But disabled artists continue to show us another possibility: access as material, access as design, access as artistry.

What happens when access isn't layered onto the work, but built into its DNA?



Photo by Steven Disenhof

Choreography by Christopher Unpezverde Nuñez
Dancers: JanpiStar, Alaja Badalich, Anna Gichan, Hannah Westbrook

Image description:
Bold white text reads Accessibility is Artful, layered under an image of four disabled, Deaf and non-disabled dancers captured in side profile as they turn in unision. They wear brightly colored, athletic costumes

05/27/2026

Who's registered for our final 2025-2026 AXIS for All?? 🙋‍♀️

Next Friday, June 5th, dancers and movers of all backgrounds will come together to explore ballet through accessible movement practices that reimagine the class experience for every body.

Through barre work, center exercises, and movement translation, participants will explore ballet while centering creativity, access, and individual expression.

If you missed out on registration, sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about Fall classes! (link in bio 🔗)

Image Description:
Video of an AXIS accessible ballet workshop in progress. Disabled and non-disabled dancers move through barre exercises to music, some in standing positions, while others are seated on the floor or in wheelchairs.

05/26/2026

Until the next time ✈️

AXIS' East Coast tour was a success! From studios to stages to classrooms, thank you to every community that welcomed us along the way.

Video Description:
AXIS tour video edit, with clips of dancers waving at the camera on travel days, in performance at Lincoln Center, as well as photos of the dancers leading workshops at UVA.

Thank you to The Dance Enthusiast for the wonderful feature on AXIS’ Big Umbrella Festival appearance!“[AXIS] not only c...
05/22/2026

Thank you to The Dance Enthusiast for the wonderful feature on AXIS’ Big Umbrella Festival appearance!

“[AXIS] not only challenges biases and moves the field forward for disabled dancers, but also conceives bright, new perspectives on dance for all”. —

We’re grateful to see Patterns recognized not only as a performance, but as an example of what becomes possible when access, artistry, and disability culture are centered from the beginning.

Image Description:
An artistically blurred image of an AXIS dancer Anna Gichan in bright rainbow colors whirling around space. Bold white text features the quote included in the caption. Pink logo for The Dance Enthusiast, and white AXIS logo also included.

an incredible residency at the University of Virginia 💜We spent the week learning alongside students who showed up wit...
05/21/2026

an incredible residency at the University of Virginia 💜

We spent the week learning alongside students who showed up with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to challenge traditional ideas about dance and technique.

One student shared: “This has expanded on my ideas of dance. The class pushed me even further.”

Next up—AXIS for All and AXIS Summer Intensive, coming this Summer!



📸 Photo 1 by Tom Daly

Image Descriptions:

1. AXIS dancers Hannah Westbrook, Julie Hasushi and Alaja Badalich lead a teaching workshop at UVA.
2. Dancers in motion with arms extended out to the left in a rectangular shape while Alaja coaches choreography on the stage.
3. AXIS Dancers and workshop participants move through choreography together on a stage, their arms extended up, leaning to the right, while Engagement Coordinator Alannah watches, seated, in the foreground.
4. Nadia Adame, Katie and Kim from University of Virginia take a selfie in front of the Culbreth Theatre entrance.

What an honor thrill to perform Patterns at Lincoln Center! 🎉Thank you to Lincoln Center for having us 💗Here are a few...
05/02/2026

What an honor thrill to perform Patterns at Lincoln Center! 🎉

Thank you to Lincoln Center for having us 💗

Here are a few of the highlights!



Image Description:
Cityscape photo of Lincoln Center from a distance during daytime under a clear blue sky.
2. AXIS dancers Julie and Janpi flash peace signs, wearing sunglasses and colorful hoodies while seated in wheelchairs on stage at Lincoln Center during a pre-show rehearsal.
3. Blurry photo of Nadia Adame and AXIS dancer Hannah mid-movement during rehearsal, arms extended towards eachother and holding hands while both seated on the floor.
4. Sign post outside Lincoln Center with a flyer for the Big Umbrella Festival.

🚨 DEADLINE EXTENDED! Just two more days to apply for AXIS Summer Intensive 2026.Join disabled, non-disabled, D/deaf, and...
04/30/2026

🚨 DEADLINE EXTENDED! Just two more days to apply for AXIS Summer Intensive 2026.

Join disabled, non-disabled, D/deaf, and neurodivergent movers and educators from around the world for our 20th annual 6-day Intensive, July 13–18 at UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Dance Studio.
Train with AXIS artists through improvisation, choreography & performance, accessible movement classes, and disability dance culture. Teacher Training Modules I & II will also be offered.

🗓 July 13–18, 2026
📍 UC Berkeley
🕛 Updated deadline: Saturday May 2

Scholarships available.
Learn more and apply at the link in bio.



Image Description:
Flyer for AXIS Summer Intensive 2026, a yellow-tinted photo of AXIS dancer Julie, smiling while seated in her wheelchair during a group class. Overlaid text reads July 13–18, 2026 at UC Berkeley Bancroft Dance Studio, Application's due May 2. A purple gradient star features bold white text reading Deadline Extended to May 2.

Happy Birthday to our Artistic Director, Nadia Adame! 🎉💜We’re grateful for the energy, leadership, and imagination she ...
04/26/2026

Happy Birthday to our Artistic Director, Nadia Adame! 🎉💜

We’re grateful for the energy, leadership, and imagination she brings to AXIS every day.

Join us in celebrating Nadia! 🎂



Image Description:

1. Nadia Adame smiling over a purple gradient backdrop, with white text that reads Happy Birthday Nadia.
2. Nadia coaching AXIS rehearsal for Kinematic / Kinesthetic, sitting against a mirrored wall in the AXIS studio, watching dancers move through choreography.
3. Dancers in movement inside the studio during AXIS' Summer Intensive.
4. Nadia and Danae Rees smile for a selfie in front of a Dance USA conference backdrop, cast in a purple light.
5. Nadia and AXIS company dancers smile for a group selfie with the photographer of a company photoshoot.

Address

1370 Tenth Street, C/o Berkeley Ballet Theater
Berkeley, CA
94710

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15106250110

Website

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