Emma Stokes lifts lid on dance taboos as a dance choreographer

EMMA Stokes loves to choreograph dance. So when she got the chance to work with dancers who have disabilities, she took on some taboo themes.

Emerging Adelaide choreographer Emma Stokes has danced at the Adelaide Festival, Edinburgh Tattoo and for the Sultan of Oman. Picture: Campbell Brodie

EMERGING choreographer Emma Stokes first heard about Adelaide’s Restless Dance company — which features performers with and without disability — while studying for a degree in dance performance at the Adelaide College of the Arts.

“Some of my fellow students did work experience with the company,” says Emma, who has appeared in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Oman Tattoo.

“A close friend continued working with the company and I’d often pick her up from rehearsal and take the chance to meet and converse with the dancers.”

It was the beginning of a close association that last year saw Emma choreograph and direct the company’s senior ensemble in a performance called What’s a Nice Girl Doing in a Place Like This?

“The themes of our show surrounded the topic of disability and sexuality — an area which some people may find uncomfortable, and perhaps it could even be called taboo,” says Emma.

“The maturity of the ensemble allowed us to have discussions on their experiences of attraction, rejection, love, sex, limitations — their own and those placed on them — as well as their future goals and wishes.”

Today’s Australian of the Day was only three when her parents enrolled her in dance classes and her love affair with performance began.

“They didn’t know what they were getting themselves into!” she says.

“Ballet classes extended to jazz, hip hop and Scottish highland dancing styles, alongside concerts, costumes and competitions.”

Although she has performed around the world, Emma says the Restless Dance company holds a special place in her heart and she hopes to continue the association.

“After working as an independent contemporary dancer I found a home at Restless,” she says. “[It’s a place] where I felt completely accepted, encouraged and appreciated.”

While the Restless Dance company has been fortunate to have Emma work with them, the relationship is a twostep dance: “They showed massive trust in me when sharing their stories and allowed me to put their ideas and experiences in front of an audience.”

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