Janice (she/her) is a disabled contemporary dance artist and educator who is passionate about exploring the endless possibilities of inclusive improvisational dance. She is joyful, playful, encouraging, and curious.  Her creative work includes both community-engaged and professional practice with a diverse population of disabled and non disabled dancers.

 

She was born with a degenerative neuromuscular disease called Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) and uses a variety of mobility aids as her dance partners. She has a MA (Education) from Simon Fraser University and holds a British Columbia Certificate of Qualification in teaching.

 

Janice currently lives on unceded Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil- Waututh), and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) territories, otherwise known as Vancouver, BC, Canada).  In 2017, she joined award winning All Bodies Dance - Vancouver and has performed with them numerous times, including during the Vines Art Festival - Vancouver in 2020 and 2021.  In 2019, she appeared in the Realwheels Theater production of Act of Faith.

 

In 2020, Janice was featured in the AMI-tv documentary series “Mind Set Go”, and she is a Movement Ambassador for the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation. Meet Janice Laurence, Movement Ambassador.

Since the pandemic, Janice now uses online technology to pursue further professional development with dancers around the world, including AXIS Dance Company - Oakland and the fabulous opportunities offered by Dance for All Bodies.