Dancers who are 'part of Scotland’s cultural story' captured on camera for nation

Made in collaboration with Glasgow-based Indepen-dance over several months, the Same Dance, Different Song photographs, which saw Ms O’kafka join in dances with her subjects, capture the personalities of the individual dancers.

National Galleries of Scotland commissioned the work after recognising a lack of representation of the disabled community in the nation’s photography collection. The organisation regularly acquires major artworks "for the nation" to preserve them for the public and keep them in Scotland's national art collection

A selection of 10 photographs marking Indepen-dance’s 30th anniversary, are now on show in the Modern Portrait rooms at the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait in a free-to-visit display.

Karen Anderson, founder of Indepen-dance, an award-winning inclusive dance company for disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy, express, and fulfil their potential through dance, said: “Seeing our dancers represented in the National Galleries of Scotland is a really special moment for Indepen-dance, particularly as we celebrate 30 years of the organisation.”

Ms Anderson added: “For me, this project is also about changing the way disabled people are seen and represented. Our dancers should be part of Scotland’s cultural story, not on the edges of it. To have these photographs acquired for the national collection and displayed for everyone to see is an important recognition of that.

“I’m incredibly proud of our dancers and Dylan, and grateful to Flannery and the National Galleries of Scotland for creating something that celebrates them so authentically. It is wonderful to see their images taking their place in our national collection.”