Dance to your own beat: People of determination in the UAE can partake in a virtual dance workshop

The one-hour-long inclusive session is an initiative by Ancy Alexander, a trained dancer with partial cerebral palsy

So You Think I Can't Dance is moving its inclusive dance workshops online. Courtesy SYTICD

The UAE may be gradually easing restrictions on outdoor travel, but one Dubai company is using the time to instead launch an online dance session, and with good reason.

Kriyability is launching its first virtual session of So You Think I Can't Dance (SYTICD), specifically designed for people of determination, to take place on Wednesday, June 6, at 6pm.

The one-hour-long session, which will take place via Zoom, is designed for medium to high-functioning individuals with a disability or disorder who are 10 years and older. It is free of cost.

The class is open to individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches, and can accommodate up to 10 participants (early registrations are compulsory). It will be facilitated by Ancy Alexander, a dance enthusiast with partial cerebral palsy who has been trained in choreography and teaching adaptive dance.

“Even though places are opening up right now, a lot of people of determination are not feeling like rushing back to the gym or other classes. A lot of people of determination also have conditions that make them susceptible to the virus. I didn’t want them to sit and wait around for the right opportunity, which is why I’ve decided to launch a virtual class to help them loosen up those muscles,” says Alexander.

According to Alexander, the class will be mostly freestyle, and no prior experience is needed to attend. Basic requirements are for participants to wear loose clothes, have a strong internet connection and some space to move around comfortably. Individuals who require the assistance of a caretaker, can attend the activity along with a partner.

SYTICD commenced late last year as a three-hour micro-workshop and freestyle dance jam for people with special needs. The session was held once a month at Horizon International School, Dubai, until group activities came to a halt under Covid-19 restrictions. The initiative aspires to make dance more accessible and practical for people with disabilities or disorders, since birth or through injuries.

For the time being, Alexander hopes to continue the classes online, on a monthly basis.

To register and receive the Zoom access link, those interested are required to send their full name, age and a line about their condition to [e-mail]