Marking International Dance Day which is celebrated worldwide wide on April 29, with a powerful message of resilience and inclusion, Indrani Mukerjea Enterprise (IME) on Monday organised a unique dance showcase featuring over 26 differently-abled performers. The event, curated by renowned choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, aimed to break stereotypes and celebrate ability in every form.
Organised by Soparrkar’s team under the IME banner, the show brought together dancers aged between 10 and 70, each living with challenges such as autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, limb differences, deafness, acid attack trauma, and mobility impairment. Yet, each participant proved that dance knows no limits.
Addressing the gathering, Indrani Mukerjea spoke movingly about her personal journey with dance. She recalled rediscovering movement on December 2, 2022, after a long period of emotional hardship, crediting Sandip Soparrkar with helping her reconnect with her body and spirit.
“The very first plié whispered a lesson my mind had forgotten: the body can bend without breaking,” she said, describing how dance taught her resilience without erasing her scars.
Highlighting the inspiring stories of the participants, Indrani shared, first was an acid-attack survivor who once avoided mirrors now spins confidently under a mirror ball, her dance a bold declaration of survival and beauty. Second was a man with Parkinson’s disease who learned to incorporate his tremors into rhythm, transforming a challenge into a performance where his arms ripple like the beats of a tabla. Another was a young woman in a wheelchair who pirouettes with her chair as her dance partner, demonstrating that grace transcends physical boundaries, and many others.
“Tomorrow, the world may celebrate dance with spotlights and perfect arabesques,” Indrani said, “but today, we prove that dance belongs to every body.”
The event was a resounding success, not only showcasing extraordinary talent but also challenging societal perceptions about disability and ability. It underscored the transformative power of dance — a medium through which resilience, strength, and joy found their purest expression.
