[MusicTlk] Reminder to check out our newer resource: Blind Performer Fat Sheet

[National Federation Of The Blind Performing Arts Division]

Happy new year friends!
I hope your new year is full of wonderful performing opportunities! 
Along those lines, I wanted to again share this resource in case you haven’t had a chance to take a look. The Blind Performer Fact Sheet provides alternative techniques and suggestions for accomplishing various performing arts as someone who is blind. I hope you’ll check it out and see if anything helps you in your artistic pursuits. 

You can find this on our website resources page or by going to: 

http://nfb.org/performers-facts

Here is an example of what to expect.

Dance
Orientation
	•	The instructor may verbally label walls to orient students using different points in the room (e.g. numbers, letters, cardinal directions, the mirror wall, door wall, etc.) Establish where each wall is located in the first class and when giving instruction. For turns, reference which wall students start out facing and where they should be at each point in the turn. Specify whether students are turning clockwise or counterclockwise and show them how fast to turn by using the beats of the music. 
	•	Open the blinds to let some sun in, as students may see or feel it on their skin to help with orientation. (It might be referred to as the window wall.)
	•	Leave the speaker in the same position for each class. Avoid moving it around because students can learn to use it as (the speaker wall" or "speaker corner" for orientation.
	•	It may be useful for a student to stand near the corner of a rug to stay oriented or return to a position.
	•	During Solo performances, students may choose to exit the stage independently by having friends yell their name in the wings while the audience claps.
	•	Props may assist in orientation. For example, a towel, blanket, or rope held with a dancer on each end may suit the routine, but also function as a tether to guide the blind dancer or help maintain spatial orientation.


Happy performing! 

~Katelyn MacIntyre, M.M.
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division
www.nfb-pad.org
www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision
Twitter: @NFB_PAD