Dance as Integration

PODCAST BY SILVA LAUKKANEN

In this episode of DanceCast, Silva interviews Kadar Khristan, a dancer/performer and the vice president of DanceAbility Finland. Kadar came to Finland in 2012 as an asylum seeker. He describes how he reluctantly came to dance after learning about it from another wheelchair user, and how he found integrated dance to be radically different than the dances of his culture. Kadar reflects on the therapeutic and social benefits of dance, and how performing boosted his confidence as both a person with a disability and as an immigrant. He shares more about his involvement with an all-wheelchair group that improvises about the environment and accessibility, as well as why he decided to become a member of DanceAbility Finland’s board to promote dance to other disabled immigrants.

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To learn more about DanceAbility Finland, visit danceabilityfinland.com.

Kadar sitting in chair reaching over his shoulder

Photo courtesy X Dance Festival