EMBRACING DIVERSITY

The Embracing Diversity Symposium that begins Tuesday at Southeast Missouri State University is an idea that almost created itself.

Different people and organizations separately had planned events and performances involving people with disabilities. They include a disability awareness workshop, a play about a disabled man, the dedication of a mural depicting physicist-author Stephen Hawking in his wheelchair, a workshop that helps people with disabilities create art, and a residency by the Cleveland Dancing Wheels, one of the first companies in the nation to incorporate people with disabilities (see schedule).

Dr. Marc Strauss, head of the dance program at Southeast, pulled all of these together into a week of events meant to open people's eyes.

"The whole point is to integrate abled and disabled folks, like the Cleveland Dancing Wheels do, in a way that gives a larger sense of the whole community," Strauss says.

The Cleveland Dancing Wheels was the first dance company of its kind to be affiliated with a major ballet company, the Cleveland Ballet. It has three "sit-down" members.

The troupe will conduct master classes during the week, climaxed by its performance Saturday night at the Show Me Center. That show will include a dance specially choreographed for local dancers by co-artistic director Sabatino Verlezza.

The work will employ both dancers with disabilities and dancers without, some of whom are well known locally. People who want to participate can contact Strauss at (573) 651-5157 or mstrauss@semovm.semo.edu

A disability awareness training workshop titled "Is It OK to Say That" will begin the symposium on Tuesday.

The symposium also will be the occasion for the dedication of the Stephen Hawking mural painted by local artist Dr. Grant Lund, to be followed by a panel discussion on the question "Science and Religion: Friends or Foes?"

Also scheduled are performances of the University Theatre-produced play "Keeping Tom Nice," directed by Dr. Robert W. Dillon Jr., and "Arts for All" day at the proposed River Campus.

"Keeping Tom Nice" is an intense play about a family who have spent 24 years keeping their disabled child Tom "nice." Opening Tuesday night at the Lab Theatre, the play is recommended for mature audiences only.

"Arts for All" is a workshop that was sponsored by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri last spring at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. Minneapolis-based workshop leader Dwayne Szot has created special tools that enable the occupants of wheelchairs to create art.

This year's workshop Saturday on the grounds of the Old St. Vincent's Seminary is being sponsored by a number of organizations (see schedule).

"Arts for All" will be presented at the same time as the first-ever River Campus Celebration of the Arts. Organized by Strauss, who also is the president of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, the festival will offer dancing, music, theater performances, a croquet party and a chicken cookout.

Szot's workshop last year in Cape Girardeau was his first in Missouri. Strauss says this will be the Cleveland Dancing Wheels' first performance in Missouri as well, making Cape Girardeau a regional pioneer in the developing field of arts and disabilities.

Embracing Diversity Symposium

The events are:

-- "Is It OK to Say That?" a disability awareness training workshop to be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the University Center University Room. The hands-on workshop is aimed at helping participants feel comfortable interacting with people with disabilities. The moderators are Dr. Karen Myers, director of New Student Programs, and Dr. Kerry Wynn, assistant director of the Learning Enrichment Center. To register, phone (573) 651-2086.

-- "Keeping Tom Nice," a play about abilities, disabilities and inabilities, to be performed at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday in Grauel 104 Lab Theatre. The play is for mature audiences only.

-- Dedication of Dr. Grant Lund's mural depicting disabled scientist-author Stephen Hawking and the Lagoon Nebula. The mural will be dedicated at noon Wednesday in the Rhodes 121 hallway.

-- A Common Hour program titled "Science and Religion: Friends or Foes?" to be held from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday in Rhodes Lecture Hall Room 121. The panel will include Dr. Bill McKinney, chairman of the philosophy and religion department; Dr. Allen Gathman, biology professor; Andy Pratt of the Baptist Student Center; Dr. Grant Lund, art professor and panel moderator; and Dr. Marc Strauss, dance program head.

-- Dance club master class with Cleveland Dancing Wheels, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Parker Dance Studio Room 210, for people with or without disabilities. No experience is necessary.

-- Cleveland Dancing Wheels master class and discussion, Parker Dance Studio Room 210, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, 12:30 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. Friday.

-- "Arts for All" day and the first annual River Campus Celebration of the Arts, both to be held Saturday on the grounds of the former Old St. Vincent's Seminary. During "Arts for All" day from 1 to 4 p.m., participants with disabilities will use an array of tools created by Dwayne Szot to create art. Co-sponsored by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, KBSI-Fox 23 and Target Stores Inc., the event is free to the public.

The River Campus Celebration of the Arts will be held from noon to 4. It will include a croquet party, chicken cookout, music, theater, visual arts and dance performances. The event is intended for both the university and Cape Girardeau community. A $2 admission will benefit the development of the River Campus.

For more information about the symposium, contact Strauss at (573) 651-5157 or at mstrauss@semovm.semo.edu

-- Performance by Cleveland Dancing Wheels, 6 p.m. Saturday at the Show Me Center. A wine and cheese reception will be held at 5 p.m. Tickets are only available at the door. Tickets are $10.50 for adults, $8 for anyone 18 and under, seniors, people with disabilities and Southeast students; $5.50 for Southeast students with an ID; and $2 for the pre-event reception.