Adaptive Dance
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March – April 2022
posAbilities Artist in Residence and professional hip-hop dancer Kelly Riccardi co-created a series of accessible videos to introduce hip hop to persons with disabilities. The videos covered hip hop history and culture as well as some of the basic moves. The goal is ultimately to grow a community of dancers who will co-create cool events and productions and connect with other hip-hop artists.
"Adaptive dance is an equitable concept of opportunity where we combine raw talent and movement…adaptations may be made to ensure the dancer is comfortable doing the move or choreography in their own way, while still keeping true to the genre which the move came from, in the way their bodies move. It's important that we remember the core of hip hop, which is brilliant creativity and passion from a place of equitable opportunity.” – Kelly
All three video experiences are available on curiko.ca. Join hosts Kelly, Janan and Harmanie Rose for on-demand Hip Hop Dance Lessons at any time!
Curiko also helped host a Hip Hop Video Release Party, where folks spent the night dancing, celebrating the cast, and introducing new people to adaptive dance. Folks even had the chance to learn how to scratch records with DJ Jheric and get a portrait made of them by local graffiti artist, Dedos.
“The moments that stood out to me were the connections that were made between the able-bodied dance community and the adaptive dance community. Everyone was included and dancing together socially. That's what hip hop is all about: co-creation and enjoyment of its outcomes.” – Kelly
You can read more about this event and the vision behind it in this CBC article!
Images courtesy Bar Perry