Dance is an outstanding way to showcase creativity, or even a means to earn a living; yet often, people with disabilities are excluded from it due to the physical demands of dance. Just like in many arenas, there are always people trying to change the narrative. For the dance industry, a local dance group, ‘Kubasha’ is stepping up to prove that people with disabilities can dance, even the toughest of moves like B-boy and break. Comprised of 12 people with various disabilities ranging from lack of one of the limbs to muteness; the group has been performing in different parts of the country, one of their most recent being their performance on the national broadcaster during the international world disability day celebrations. Amani Kiwembe, a 26-year-old professional dancer based in Kigali is the brains behind the group. He says the idea to form a permanent dance group for people with disabilities came to him in 2019 when he organised a temporary themed performance about disabilities. “At that time, I had assembled a number of people with disabilities to take part in a temporary show that we held in Nyamirambo, but I ended up establishing a permanent group because of what I witnessed in that particular show. I realised how impactful the performances of these people can be,” he said. “We performed before almost 800 people at the show, and it was such an amazing experience. Some of the revelers were amazed, some got emotional and cried just seeing what these people could do. When I saw this, I wondered why I couldn’t establish a permanent group for dancers with disabilities?” he added. He then introduced the idea to them, and they bought it and soon Kiwembe along with his dance-counterpart, a one Alex Sebaggala began training them. Before very long, they began organising performances in particular venues in the city. From these, they earned some money, and this started having an impact on the lives of the members. “They can take care of their needs using the little money they make, like paying their rent fees, among other things. For a single performance, each dancer takes home about Rwf50, 000 or more. This is good for their lives. Before, some considered themselves as unable people and were begging on streets, but now that has changed,” Kiwembe says, adding that the change is not in terms of financial welfare, but also in terms of gaining confidence and happiness in their lives. Today, the group has aspirations of being financially capable to do more activities, among which is to establish an art center for people with disabilities, where those with various talents will exercise them ranging from painting and drawing to music and poetry. Kiwembe, the founder, training one of the dancers. The group during practice.
