• Fat Liberation * Empowering Community

    Body Home Fat Dance creates performance and offers dance classes centering our fat community. Our goal is to inspire joyful movement, connection with our bodies, and creative expression, while honoring our unique abilities and challenges with self-compassion. We're co-creating a resilient community, building an empowering and nuanced dialogue about fat liberation, and connecting with our own embodied selves. Dance classes and embodiment classes offered here in Portland, OR. We also have a performance troupe exploring meaningful movement in fat bodies.

  • Upcoming Classes

    Feeling Fat

    taught by KT Kusmaul

    We will deeply feel into our fat bodies through embodiment exploration and creative movement. We will practice deepening into the sensations in our bodies and how to perceive and honor that somatic wisdom. I’ll guide you into exploring how your body moves, not despite your fatness, but fully embracing your fat. We are going to get curious about jiggles and folds, the momentum and gravity of fat bodies.

     

    6 Sundays starting February 19, 2023

    Registration opens Feb 1

    Dance classes

    taught by KT Kusmaul

    Right now we are doing occasional pop-up classes which are announced via email list first, and then social media. Watch those spaces for most up to date class info.

  • Where have I seen you before?

    Pavement

    Produced by Boom Arts and Risk/Reward

    Summer 2020

    A Well Upholstered Refrain- collaboration with Mickey Pollizatto

    Rip/pull

    Premiered at Interplay

    Echo Theater

    February 2020

    Collaboration with Kryptic Films and Mickey Pollizatto

    On The Boards

    NW New Works Festival 2019- Weighted Bodies

    Performance Lab curator 2019

    Performance Lab performer 2018- Solo

    Risk/Reward

    Festival of New Works 2019

    Weighted Bodies

    Alembic Residency and Performance

    Performance Works Northwest

    Awarded a year long residency. Final performance

    2018/2019

    Voices: A Choreographer's Showcase

    Produced by PDX Dance Collective

    February 2018- Weighted Bodies

    Knock Out

    Plus Size Fashion Show Event

    2017 and 2019

  • Press: What are they saying about us?!

    Portland Monthly- Arts Roundup

    Even this glossy print magazine took notice of the buzz our performances created recently!

    What the Q? Podcast

    Hear KT talk about fatness, queerness, and how art helped her explore gender. Interviewed by the incredible Mickey, dancer and composer for Weighted Bodies.

    Fat Face Feelings Podcast

    KT talks about fatness, identity, gender, queer performance art, community, imposter syndrome and her 3-legged anxious dog.

    Dance Wire

    Dance Wire founder, Emily, interviews KT about her hopes for the future of Body Home (which later came true!)

     

     

    Portland Monthly

    Article about Body Home and KT in December 2017

     

     

    Fat Girls Hiking

    Fat Girls Hiking is a diverse body positive hiking community. Trails Not Scales! Article by their Sumr, their founder.

    Stance on Dance

    Feature article from this organization that educates about dance from the perspective of underrepresented voices and access points.

  • Who are we?

    KT Kusmaul (she/they)

    Founder, Artistic Director, dance teacher

    KT is a fat, queer, non-binary, white, able-bodied human who is passionate about community, creativity, and mutual liberation from oppressive systems. With a history of creating radical gender performance in an underground queer art scene, now she is using her creative skills to bring fat liberation performance art to life.

  • FAQ

    Hey, that is a really great question!

    What styles of dance do you teach?

     

    In the flagship dance class, KT teaches an eclectic style with a focus on Jazz and Contemporary. Most classes include a warm up and learning choreography.

     

    Where are you located?

     

    Portland, OR. Though we have been known to travel up to Seattle on occasion. We primarily teach classes out of SomaSpace in the Hollywood District and FLOCK Center for Dance in an arts space in industrial NW Portland.

     

    How accessible is the space?

    SomaSpace is ADA accessible. The front door threshold is about an inch tall. Two bathrooms are individual, gender neutral and have space and bars for chair users. Parking is mostly on the street. There is parking in the A-boy lot after 6pm with permit (come into studio to get the permit) and they have 1 accessible spot. Studio is 3 blocks from Hollywood transit center. The space is not scent free due to other users of the space, but ask no one to wear scents. Studio is hard wood floors, has AC and heat.

     

    FLOCK is a converted industrial building, so there are some irregular features. There are no stairs to reach the studio. Parking is on the street and then you must walk up a steep driveway. After that it's flat or ramps. Bathrooms are single stall, gender neutral, and large with grab bars. Studio has good quality heat and AC as well as two air filters. Hard wood floors. Not dedicated scent free but I am never aware of overt scents or chemicals.

     

    Stools provided for option of supported movement. Participants are encouraged to create and ask for adaptations to movements that will best honor their body's ability and comfort. Please ask for more details for your access needs as I am eager to work with you to make this a more accessible space.

     

     

    Do I have to be fat to join?

     

    This space is created with a focus on creating a safe and joyful space for fat folks. We like to call it fat-centric. Folks of any size are welcome to join us, though we ask not to dilute the overall intention of the space.


    What do I wear?

    Whatever is comfortable to move in. Most people wear leggings, yoga pants or shorts with a T-shirt. For your feet consider barefoot, dance shoes, or sneakers if they are dedicated to indoor activity.


    Is the price flexible?

    Yes. I try to start with affordable prices. I offer discounted tickets and reserved spots for BIPOC, transgender and gender non-conforming folks, superfats/infinifats, and folks with disabilities. And, please if the cost feels prohibitive contact me and we can work out an arrangement.

  • Stay in Touch

     

    Want to collaborate, ask questions or send us love notes?

    Email us at:

    BodyHomeFatDance@gmail.com

     

     

    Want to stay up to date on classes and performances?

    Subscribe to our Email List:

Portland, OR

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