Movement, music, and fun: square dancing for blind and visually impaired dancers

Description

Square dancing is a barrier-free dance style and popular sport for blind and visually impaired people, with no competition involved and a focus on fun and enjoyment. It combines dancing to popular music with a mental challenge, as the dancers never know what call will follow. The large, welcoming community is very helpful. Participants learn the basics, formations, and spatial orientation in the square. They learn how the community is organized and how to find and join local clubs. Getting started is non-binding and free of charge, so you can test whether square dancing suits you and you enjoy it. Requirements are good learning and concentration skills, sufficient hearing, responsiveness, and the ability to move by foot or active wheelchair. No previous knowledge is necessary.

Speaker

Birgit Rudolf & Stephan Jacobs

Birgit Rudolf is an experienced dance instructor for seniors and a dedicated square dance caller with many years of expertise in barrier-free dance programs. She has been actively dancing since 2007 and has trained in senior dance, as well as taking on leadership roles in the German Senior Dance Association (BVST). She has been a certified square dancer since 2014 and later completed her caller training. She is a member of ECTA and CALLERLAB and has been the club caller for Dancing Eagles Cologne SDC e. V. since 2022. Her focus is on promoting square dancing as an accessible leisure activity for people with and without disabilities. Since February 2025, she has been president of Dancing Eagles Cologne SDC e. V. and is particularly committed to the inclusive development of the club, which now includes several blind and visually impaired dancers.

Stephan Jacobs has been a certified square dancer with a visual impairment since 2013. Over the past ten years, he has organized several well-attended square dance workshops specifically for blind and visually impaired dancers, each of which has inspired a number of participants to take up square dancing.
Until March 2023, he was the initiator and founding president of Dancing Eagles Cologne SDC e. V. i. G. He then served for two years as Member at Large Accessibility at the association level in the European Association of American Square Dancing Clubs e.V. (EAASDC). Since February 2025, he has been vice president of Dancing Eagles Cologne SDC e. V. and is also actively involved in promoting the participation of people with disabilities in square dancing.