Jolt 3 Aynsley Terrace, Hillsborough, Christchurch, Canterbury 8022

Welcome to Jolt, an innovative and inclusive dance institution located in Christchurch, New Zealand. Since 2001, Jolt has been at the forefront of pioneering inclusive dance practices, challenging mainstream perspectives about dance, disability, and difference. Our mission is to create connection, expression, and belonging through the freedom of inclusive dance.

At Jolt, we offer weekly classes that are open to people of all ages (5 ) and abilities. These classes aim to build on our dancers' unique movements, extending and challenging them in ways that are both creative and authentic. Through our classes, we explore new ways for our dancers to connect artistically, physically, spatially, and socially.

One of our flagship programs, Move, provides a training pathway for people with intellectual disabilities to become dance teachers. Move trainees develop a portfolio of activities and create bespoke lesson plans for diverse groups. They also gain practical experience by teaching in weekly community classes. The trainees not only demonstrate their capacity for leadership but also their unique ability to connect with diverse communities and engage them in dance. Their creativity and leadership have enriched people from both mainstream and disability communities, challenging the deficit paradigm of disability by offering a model for inclusive practice.

In addition to our classes and training programs, Jolt has developed a dynamic performance program that puts our dancers at the center. Through our performances, we share with audiences their unique movements, perspectives, connections, and stories. These performance projects have taken audiences, both with and without disabilities, to places they haven't been before. In doing so, they have shown them new ways to see and understand the world.

At Jolt, we believe in the power of inclusive dance to break barriers, challenge societal norms, and create a sense of belonging for all. Join us on this transformative journey and experience the joy and liberation of inclusive dance.