Presented as part of our Fall/Winter 2025 guest artist workshop series:
Sensory Beyond Sight: A Choreographic Workshop Series with Davian “DJ” Robinson
About Davian “DJ” Robinson:
Davian “DJ” Robinson is a passionate and boundary-breaking visually impaired dancer, choreographer, and performer. Drawing from his lived experience and athletic movement style, he creates choreography that is both physically powerful and emotionally resonant. His work blends dynamic storytelling with raw embodiment, inviting audiences into a world where rhythm, resilience, and adaptability redefine how we move and connect. Through both performance and education, Davian challenges conventions and opens new possibilities for inclusive expression in the arts.
About This Intensive Workshop Series:
Sensory Beyond Sight cultivates movement using breath, touch, spatial hearing, weight, and proprioception rather than sight. Developed by visually‑impaired choreographer DJ Robinson, the practice empowers participants to:
• Discover liberating, imaginative movement without visual imitation.
• Deepen body awareness in time and space.
• Build trusting partnerships that translate verbal cues into motion.
Tactile & Creative Supplies:
DJ often designs choreography using a tactile drafting board/felt board.
Magnetic or Velcro pieces represent dancers and pathways, allowing him to map formations by touch and communicate spatial ideas clearly.
This reminder models how tactile tools can replace sight‑based diagrams.
What follows are shopping links for the different equipment options that you can choose to use during the workshop series and continuing on in your own choreographic practice:
- Wikki Stix Neon Pak (Amazon link)
Reusable, bendable wax-coated yarn sticks for creative tactile art and sensory play. Great for children, educational projects, and travel activities.
- ANLIOTE 12″×9″ Dry-Erase Whiteboard (Amazon link)
Handheld double-sided dry erase board, perfect for quick notes, learning, or drawing. Includes markers and erasers.
- DRAFTSMAN Tactile Drawing Board (APH link)
A specialized tactile drawing board with stylus and film sheets, allowing blind or visually impaired users to create raised-line graphics. Durable and portable, offered by the American Printing House for the Blind.
- Picture Maker Wheatley Tactile Diagramming Kit (APH link)
A diagramming kit with a felt board and velcro-backed pieces, allowing for building tactile diagrams and graphics for orientation, mobility, or educational work.
Workshop Dates and Details:
This workshop series is cumulative, and each of the four workshops builds on the skills developed the week before.
All workshops start at 4 pm (Eastern Time), and are 90 minutes long.
- Saturday, November 8, 2025: Breath & Foundational Body Awareness
- Saturday, November 15, 2025: Deep Tactile Awareness & Directionality
- Saturday, November 22, 2025: Partner Guiding & Shape the Mode Expansion
- Saturday, November 29, 2025: Trust Guide Series & Culmination
To register for this transformative workshop series, send an email to info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line Sensory Beyond Sight
