Tag: disability

Meredith Aleigha Wells Is Breaking Boundaries This Holiday Season

Chicago-based dancer, actor, singer and writer Meredith Aleigha Wells dreamed of a career in the arts from a young age, and landed at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to pursue that dream. It was there, however, that Wells (who uses they/them pronouns) was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS,) a form of autonomic dysfunction, […]

Watch These Dancers Perform Intricate Choreography—Without Hearing the Music

For any dancer, there are some days when staying on the music can feel almost impossible. But the dancers of the China Disabled Peoples’ Performing Arts Troupe are known for performing with exquisite musicality—even though they’re deaf. Founded in 1987, the China Disable Peoples’ Performing Arts Troupe includes both hard-of-hearing dancers and blind musicians. Members […]

This Dancer Doesn't Let Her Disabilities Discourage Her Dreams

For 14-year-old Averi Hodgson, focusing on her ballet training while growing up was never easy: She’s suffered from epilepsy since she was in first grade, and later, she was also diagnosed with scoliosis. Here, she tells her story of perseverance—and how her determination earned her a spot at the School of American Ballet’s 2017 summer […]

This Dancer Was Born Deaf and Is Chasing Her Dreams

Talk about inspiring. It seems like kind of a given that if you want to dance to music, you have to be able to hear it. But the human body is amazing, and human willpower even more so. Case in point: Macy Baez, a 15-year-old Australian hip-hop dancer who happens to be deaf. She feels […]

These Wheelchair Dancers Will Blow Your Mind

The best part about being a dancer is that we’re inspired on the daily by our amazing peers. Case in point, the members of Infinite Flow: A Wheelchair Dance Company. These dancers, some of who perform on their feet, while others perform on their wheels, are ballroom pros, and they’ve re-imagined what the art form […]

Meet the First Bionic Pop Star

  Who do you picture when someone says female pop star? Probably someone like Taylor Swift or Rhianna. They’re both beautiful, powerful and talented. And despite their different looks and style, one thing they have in common is ability. When I say “ability” I don’t mean the talent required to sing well (we know they […]