04/30/2026
Happy International Dance Day (a day late) to Deborah Hay — one of Austin’s own.
A founding member of the seminal Judson Dance Theater in NYC, Hay helped shape postmodern dance by expanding what dance could be—where any body, any movement, any moment holds meaning.
I first started learning about her at 14 years old—and more than 40 years later, I had the chance to meet her here in Austin at an art opening. A full-circle moment that speaks to the lasting impact of her work.
After moving to Austin in 1976, she spent decades leading open workshops for trained and untrained dancers alike, developing her practice of “playing awake”—an invitation to move with deep awareness, where each experience is entirely unrepeatable.
“I cannot think of anything else in my life where there is so much unlearning and learning happening at the same time.”
As physical therapists specializing in dance, we witness this constant cycle of learning, unlearning, and rediscovery in the body every day.
Dancing is not a talent. It is a way of waking up.
Thank you, Deborah.
