Silva Laukkanen is the Director of Integrated Dance at Art Spark Texas. She is a passionate dance educator, advocate, and researcher for inclusive dance. A chance opportunity to teach at a rehabilitation center in her native Finland transformed Silva’s perspective on movement, leading her to refocus on community dance and disability. She has since worked internationally, creating choreography and teaching in diverse settings, from senior centers to correctional facilities and professional dance companies. In 2016, Silva launched DanceCast, a podcast highlighting artists working beyond traditional dance norms, and in 2021, she co-authored the book Breadth of Bodies: Discussing Disability in Dance. With a deep commitment to expanding access to dance education, Silva continues to research, publish, and produce projects that challenge perceptions of who can dance and where dance happens.
Silva manages the ArtsLink International Fellowships connection.
