Dansenett Norge and DansiT have collaborated on a pilot project exploring how audio description can work for a touring production.

Kjelleren by Jo Strømgren has served as the project’s case study, and the final performance in the initiative took place on Tuesday, May 19, at Trøndelag Teater. Nine audience members listened to the audio description, developed and performed live by Betty Nilsen from DansiT.

“It has been an exciting project in which we have delivered live audio description at every performance, while the narration was digitally transmitted to the audience,” says Nilsen, who is Access Coordinator and Production Manager at DansiT.

The tour took place across Central Norway, and it was particularly at Trøndelag Teater that more audience members used the audio description service. Frida Natland was highly enthusiastic after the performance.

Added new dimensions to the dance

“The audio description added surprisingly new dimensions to the dance. The movements were well described, and it also gave a deeper understanding of the artistic expression,” she says, before elaborating:

“Both those of us with low vision and fully sighted audience members gained a greater understanding of the dance. As a partially sighted person, I noticed small details I otherwise would not have seen, such as gazes, facial expressions, subtle movements, and objects on stage. My friend, who is fully sighted, also noticed things she otherwise would not have paid attention to,” she says enthusiastically.

The pilot project is part of Dansenett Norge’s action plan to offer performances with audio description and other accessibility measures for audiences with different disabilities. DansiT has extensive experience in making performing arts accessible and has therefore been responsible for carrying out the project through Access Coordinator Betty Nilsen and Tour Planner Rannei Grenne.

Thanks to all the presenters

Nilsen developed the audio description based on video documentation of the performance, as well as conversations and input from the company and colleagues.

“We would like to thank all the presenters who participated in the pilot project, Jo Strømgren and company, as well as the audience members who made use of the service in Kristiansund, Molde, and Trondheim,” concludes Betty Nilsen.

The presenters participating in the pilot project were Trøndelag Teater, Teatret Vårt and In2it.