“Underpinning the theme of ‘Connections’ is the idea that dance can build connections among us by being inclusive and accessible,” Johnson said.
The finale of the performance will involve choreography inspired by participants’ answers to survey questions – such as “What does freedom mean to you?” and “What is one wish you have for your community?” – typically used in the Democracy Initiative’s One Small Step program to unite people of different backgrounds.
Johnson, the Karsh Institute’s director of research as well as the manager of the John L. Nau III History and Principles of Democracy Lab at UVA, serves on the Charlottesville Ballet’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access committee. She was instrumental in forging the partnership between the ballet and the initiative, which aims to bring together a diverse group of people to study and advance the prospects of democracy around the world.
“It was kind of a conversation between our projects,” Johnson said. “One Small Step has been making these efforts to ask questions to allow people to have conversations that foster understanding and trust. And the ballet was thinking about how to incorporate community voices into the choreography of ‘Connections.’”
Democracy isn’t just going to the voting booth every so often, Johnson noted.
“We often think of democracy as a political system, especially one that’s marked by a set of electoral institutions,” she said. “But democracy also involves practices, attitudes and values related to political culture. And we want to engage with questions of culture as part of our understanding of democracy. Given that, the ‘Connections’ production is related to us thinking about how it’s important to explore the role of the arts and the humanities in fostering social and political culture.”
Johnson was introduced to the Charlottesville Ballet a few years ago when her daughter performed in “The Nutcracker.” As they do before most shows, ballet co-founders Emily Hartka, a 2012 UVA alumna, and Sara Clayborne came on stage to tell the audience about the unique nature of their company – that what the audience was about to see might not resemble the stereotypical ballet production.
“They talked about their focus on dancer health and wellness, and inclusivity in terms of backgrounds and body types,” Johnson said. “Their organization has been underpinned by a philosophy of inclusion and accessibility – and you see that in their programming, in who they highlight as dancers.”