Resident artist Alexa Dexa collaborated with Experiments in Opera to share a series of online, accessibility-centered crip ritual operas, creative workshops, and work shares for their deaf and disabled community. Alexa’s creative community programming served as a love letter promising to not leave each other behind as national and local safety guidelines ceased to protect disabled populations at high risk for Covid. Alexa led two series of workshops exploring accessibility in operatic projects and the power of sound to shape creativity. Alexa also developed Bewitch Yourself, an interactive opera where participants could co-create a libretto with the artist; and SOAK, an immersive bathtub opera offering a crip ritual for nourishing disabled bodyminds. The artist’s work was a testament to the power of disabled stories to shape real social change.

Experiments in Opera is an artist-led non-profit opera company that opens up the boundaries of opera by supporting and guiding an inclusive group of artists, musicians, composers, and librettists to expand their craft. Our company positions new operas in a context shaped by our artist leaders and their work.