DanceAbility International founder and creative director Alito Alessi believes all people should have an opportunity to express themselves, no matter their level of ability or skill.
DanceAbility’s philosophy is that all people are taught to dance without isolating anyone, and people’s conditions are not problems.
“Isolation and separation are the problems to solve, and DanceAbility does just that,” Alito says.
The Inspiration for A Movement
He grew up in a family that at an early age, when he was 7 years old, both his mother and sister became disabled from a car accident. His father’s brother was also mentally disabled. These facts never changed his outlook on people at large.
“I never felt that I had a family with disabled people. We were just all people. That sort of philosophy, that people are people, which is the foundation of the DanceAbility method, was also the philosophy of my young generation of dance,” he said.
He left his family when he was 12 years old, but knew he needed structure and a practical support system. So, he committed himself through various forms of movement practice, such as dance and martial arts. This practice instilled commitment, devotion, and a daily reflection of himself, which made him feel safe in the world.
“After several years, when I found myself successfully unhappy in my dance career, I decided I had to organize my values to really fit what dancing meant to me, and that meant that dancing was for all people. Out of that philosophy grew a lot of trial and error until the DanceAbility methodology was created.”
Artistry of DanceAbility
He continues to find inspiration through his work in the field and immersing himself in an honest reflection of society.
“When you work with people who don’t have opportunities and chances to fulfill their own goals and you provide opportunities for them to eliminate the obstacles from them finding themselves and you’re in the presence of that atmosphere, it is inspirational,” he says.
“These experiences – yours, other people’s, and the community at large – are taken on stage. The people watching are doing more than just that, they are sensing and feeling the performers, and they also are moved by the nature of dance and what it could do as a form of expression, no matter the ability.”
The audience at Oregon Bach Festival will have the opportunity to feel moved through our collaboration with DanceAbility International for the premiere of Bach in Motion on Friday, July 5. This collaborative and transformational venture brings a collection of Bach’s finest works to life through movement, as the dancers connect Bach’s aspirational sense of humanity with expressions of self-discovery and the equality of humanity beyond the perceived limitations of physical form. The dancers will be accompanied by soprano Julia Sophie Wagner, mezzo-soprano Sarah Mesko, tenor Colin Ainsworth, bass-baritone Kenneth Overton, and the OBF Orchestra and Chamber Choir, led by the conductor Jane Glover.
A Look Toward the Future
The next step for DanceAbility International is to create a strong infrastructure support system that can facilitate the replication of its methodology on a global scale.
The organization recently was selected as an Innovative Practice of the Zero Project 2019 by the Essl Foundation. In addition to this award, DanceAbility was selected as one of 10 international programs to participate in the Zero Project Impact Transfer program for 2019, a collaboration between the Essl and Ashoka Foundations. The Zero Project is an initiative to identify the most innovative and effective policies and practices that improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
This will help the organization with training, mentorship, and guidance on how to replicate the program. In five to 10 years, Alito hopes this goal is implemented, fully functioning, and has the support system to continue on indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Alito is organizing more master teacher trainings and creating master teacher teaching courses this summer at the University of Oregon to have others teach the methodology, as Alito is the only current trainer of the methodology. With 600 teachers in 45 countries, he wants these individuals to become trainers and continue on the methodology. He also is writing a book about the DanceAbility methodology and how to implement it so others have the recipe on how to share it in their communities.
“I feel art transforms society and has the ability to educate and change people’s experience of the world, so I am interested to present perspectives for people to consider in the choices that they make,” Alito says.
To learn more about DanceAbility International, visit its website.
Grab tickets to see Bach in Motion live on July 5.