{"id":66149,"date":"2025-05-05T11:34:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T15:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/?p=66149"},"modified":"2025-09-11T15:47:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T19:47:13","slug":"davian-dj-robinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/05\/05\/davian-dj-robinson\/","title":{"rendered":"Davian (DJ) Robinson"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"headshot<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Dancer, Choreographer, Motivational Speaker, Massage Therapist, and former Paralympic Athlete<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Education: BA in Dance, UNC Charlotte (2020)
BS in Exercise Science, UNC Charlotte (2020)
Hometown: Hickory, NC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davian Robinson is a multifaceted creator working in Charlotte, whose goal in creating is to \u201cdismantle barriers and raise up the oppressed dancer who is disabled, who also desires to express themselves through physical movement.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the ways he is working to bridge the gap is his Sensory Beyond Sight <\/em>initiative,through which he holds workshops and performs across the country. These workshops invite participants to experience movement without the use of their sight. The work he has done through Sensory Beyond Sight<\/em> has led to Davian speaking and sharing choreography at events such as the Alexander Technique national conference at Columbia University in New York, NY, Orsolina 28 and The Palace of Venaria in Italy, and Loose Leaves Showcase in Charlotte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davian has also been collaborating with ShaLeigh Dance Works since 2019 to co-direct an immersive and inclusive performance format, which does not solicit the viewer\u2019s sight, but rather all their other senses. This partnership led to a project called enVISION: Sensory Beyond Sight<\/em>, which premiered at American Dance Festival\u2018s 2022 open premiere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Davian is teaching at Expand Movement Dance Studio in Charlotte, which has classes that bring together children with and without disabilities. Davian also recently presented a new work for the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art’s new immersive exhibition, \u201cWe Are Here \u2013 Beyond Vision.\u201d For this exhibition, he teamed up with New York Artist Janet Biggs and Bechtler curator Katia Zavistovski to create a multisensory experience that invites audiences to explore the world beyond sight. The installation has been featured in The Charlotte Observer and on WCNC TV news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davian was also asked to participate as a resource person in an event organized by the Accessibility Research Centre, IIT Madras, scheduled for October 2025. This event aims to bring together artists, educators, and researchers who are committed to advancing accessibility and inclusion in the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with Davian\u2019s dance projects and motivational speaking about inclusivity in the dance community, he is also a licensed massage therapist and a cycling instructor and holds a USA Paralympic National Title for the 1-kilometer Time Trial in cycling. He is currently training to run the New York City marathon in November 2025.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before his amazing career, Davian (also known as DJ) was a student at UNC Charlotte. He said his time in the Dance Department was defined by excitement, curiosity, growth, and learning. These experiences culminated in deeper self-expression, increased confidence, and a greater appreciation for his own identity and how dance fosters empathy and inclusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI discovered that dance is not only an art form but also a bridge to understanding and connection,\u201d he says. \u201cA multitude of beautiful, compassionate, and talented dance peers helped bring my experience to life \u2013 making it not only accessible, but deeply enriching. Their support and collaboration were essential to my development as an artist and human being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DJ also mentioned that one of the most impactful moments came in his first Vintage Jazz dance class with retired professor Karen Hubbard. At the time, he was only a dance minor, and he was eager to tap into his kinesthetic memory from earlier childhood training. He quickly realized that he had much to relearn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat stood out most was that Karen didn\u2019t tell me \u2018no\u2019\u2014she simply asked \u2018how?\u2019 That one word affirmed my presence and made me feel welcomed, valued, and excited for the journey ahead. Being embraced by the UNC Charlotte dance family \u2013 open minds, open hearts \u2013 was a defining experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another pivotal influence from his time in the Department of Dance was the mentorship  received from his peers. Their encouragement and example pushed him to grow in technique and artistry, while also teaching him resilience, patience, and the importance of self-compassion. He said that they showed him the power of trying new things, even when met with uncertainty or challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, DJ says that the department taught him the value of community, self-advocacy, and the power of using his voice. He said, \u201cI learned that challenging the norm and asserting my needs isn\u2019t resistance \u2013 it\u2019s part of cultivating a more meaningful and inclusive experience for everyone. I came to understand that I could perform, take critique, be challenged, and choreograph meaningful work using my body as a canvas \u2013 and my non-visual perspective as a creative lens to bring stories to life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out DJ’s website here<\/a>, and be sure to check out this podcast<\/a> where DJ talks about his journey and career. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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