A recap of our newest work supported by the Hewlett 50 Arts Commission, praised by The New York Times.
By Danae Rees, Executive Director

This spring, AXIS Dance Company had the incredible opportunity to share Kinematic/Kinesthetic with more than 900 audience members through a series of performances and events that marked a milestone for our company, our partners, and the field of inclusive contemporary dance.
A Landmark Collaboration in Dance and Science
Created as part of the Hewlett Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Arts Commissions, Kinematic/Kinesthetic was more than a performance, this was a multidisciplinary exploration of movement, disability, and perception—merging physics, technology, and lived experience through the lens of disabled and non-disabled dancers.
Multidisciplinary artist Ben Levine, with engineering students from Carnegie Mellon and University of Maryland, spent over two years designing the technology—including the telescoping crutches and robotic hexapod legs—used in Kinematic/Kinesthetic. AXIS collaborated with Omeo, creators of a hands-free, self-balancing wheelchair, to open up even more possibilities for embodied expression. These ingenuous partnerships resulted in a piece that seamlessly blends dance, physics, technology, and lived experience to challenge how movement is perceived.
Performing at Stanford Live and the Exploratorium
It was thrilling to share Kinematic/Kinesthetic with Bay Area audiences at both Stanford Live’s Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University and San Francisco’s Exploratorium, an all-ages museum of science, technology, and arts. Each performance inspired vibrant discussion about disability, embodiment, and the nature of movement, showing how dance can transform understanding in both artistic and scientific contexts.
National Recognition and Growing Visibility
This project has also helped expand the national visibility of AXIS. Kinematic/Kinesthetic was featured in The New York Times on May 8, highlighting the work’s ambition and impact within the dance world and beyond. We’re proud to be helping redefine what dance can be—and who it’s for.
Advancing Radical Inclusion in Performance
At AXIS, we believe in the power of radical inclusion, disabled artistry, and the creative potential of diverse bodies and minds. Kinematic/Kinesthetic is a reflection of those values and a testament to what’s possible when artists, scientists, and institutions come together to push boundaries.
To our collaborators, partners, funders, and community members, thank you for making this bold vision a reality. We can’t wait to see where this kind of work takes us next.