The disabled dance maker and PIAF Artist in Residence talks religious experiences and asking the hard questions.

Claire Cunningham wants to ask you a question. Born with osteoporosis, disability has been a major part of the Scottish dancer and choreographer’s life. Far from holding her back, her crutches, which Cunningham has used since she was a teenager, have allowed her to develop a beautifully unique and potently poetic movement language.

Online Editor Maxim Boon finds out how Cunningham’s dance is getting people talking.


You’re going to be the first artist in residence under Wendy Martins’ tenure as PIAF Festival Director. What does a residency like this allow you to do?

One aspect that is particularly important to me is having this amazing opportunity to spend an extended amount of time in one place. I’ll be in Perth for almost a full month and even though Wendy couldn’t have known this when she approached me, this kind of sustained, more thorough exploration is something I’ve been thinking about a lot over the last couple of years. Quite often when I tour, it’s these little short trips where you just go in, do the show and go home. Having the...