Beyond Disability: Wheelchair Dancers Steal Show at National School Drama Festivals
The Joy Town School from Kiambu county in Thika West recently showcased their talents at the National Drama Festivals in Mombasa. Despite various physical impairments, the students presented a creative cultural dance, displaying their capabilities beyond their disabilities.
The group consisted of eight dancers in wheelchairs and two drummers, with one dancer using a crutch due to an amputated leg.
The dance incorporated the use of digital devices in both positive and negative ways, showcasing the students’ creativity and ability to adapt to modern technology.
The performance was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the dance trainer, Esther Gathuo, and the students who defied the odds and even challenged themselves to sing and dance to a song outside the Central region.
Gathuo recounted the journey from training to achieving the wins and expressed her humility and gratitude for the opportunity to compete with others who are not in the SNE (Special Needs Education) category. The school presented the dance in the Luhya dialect, adding a unique cultural touch to the performance.
The students’ different abilities, including dislocated hip joints and others, did not hinder their performance, and they wowed their audience with their talent and spirit. Gathuo highlighted the challenges of training students with different abilities to align and dance the same way, but the hard work and perseverance paid off as the group made it to the national stage.
The performance was a reminder of the power of inclusion and the importance of recognizing the abilities of individuals beyond their disabilities. The Joy Town School’s showcase was an inspiration to many and a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and creativity.
Beyond Disability: Wheelchair Dancers Steal Show at National School Drama Festivals
