Article "Thumbs Up" in Othéo – Church and Life
Michèle Martens from DanceOrientation wants to make dance accessible to everyone.
Michèle Martens from Ghent had been teaching dance for 15 years when a few visually impaired dancers signed up. This marked the start of her special focus on inclusive dance. This means people with and without disabilities take dance classes together. ‘The focus on inclusivity came as a welcome challenge. Not only my students, but I too get to rediscover,’ says an enthusiastic Michèle. As an archaeologist, she finds joy in searching for new ways of moving, feeling, listening, and teaching. Moreover, she can share this knowledge with others thanks to the support of the King Baudouin Foundation. ‘It feels like I’ve been given the chance to redefine dance. Thanks to my blind dancers, I’ve found a new life purpose. Through their commitment and perseverance, they achieved such beautiful results that now even ‘sighted’ social organizations and sports institutions are taking notice of our dance school.’ ‘Going against the current can be very lonely at times, but I feel happy when I dance with my blind dancer Manuel. He also stands unconditionally by my side in this project.’ Michèle also draws strength from her faith. Last October, she was in Assisi. ‘I was touched by a special softness in the air, reinforced by the gentle autumn sun. It was a silent confirmation for me that aesthetics, humanity, and harmony can indeed go hand in hand. And what truly made me happy were the people of Assisi: sincere and kind to one another. I hope that society at large, and the dance world too, will move more and more in that direction: people embracing one another, with or without disabilities. Not as a compromise, but as a mutual enrichment.’
Would you like to join a dance session yourself?
Come to Experience DanceOrientation on 21 and 22 November 2025 at Port Arthurlaan 33 in Ghent.
Text descriptions of the photos
photo 1: Ignace, blind due to cancer, dances bachata with his sighted girlfriend Lieve
photo 2: Michèle briefly assists Ignace with the steps, people around them dance bachata
photo 3: Mario explains dance moves to Georgia and Manuel
