Beyond Boundaries · Essays and tidbits from Nancy Bo Flood
What would I call the flock of Pomelo poets—over 200—who created poems for Hop to It: Poems to Get You Moving? I take inspiration from the birds. Imagine hundreds of poets gathering “en masse” and speaking in verse. We sing melodies of metaphors, soar with words, and fly where our imaginations take us. What is…
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I Will Dance celebrates the joy of dancing, the importance of belonging, and the determination of a child who could barely move but dreamed of dancing … not imagine, not pretend, and not alone. Come and watch them dance.
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Why did I write I Will Dance? I watched this unique community of dancers—all abilities, all ages—dance with such joy, my own tears tumbled down. What did I see and hear? Giggles, Smiles, Laughter. Hugs. A community sharing their passion—dance! Dancers moved across and around the stage, some in wheelchairs, some with walkers, and some with…
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I am the child of immigrants. My father’s father was orphaned at 14 and walked from the family farm near Prague to northern Germany to buy passage on a ship sailing to New York City. Alone. My other grandfather, Thomas, was the son of Italian immigrants fleeing conflicts in Europe. His grandfather, Antonio, was conscripted…
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Here is Lexi’s story, directly from Lexi herself: “At the time of writing this, I’ve been in dance for 7 years. I have danced with Young Dance in Minneapolis, Minnesota for all 7 years. After a head injury, I have needed the use of a cane and have experimented with dancing with a cane and/or…
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Ava is not a quitter. Ava weighed less than one pound when she was born early, 14½ ounces to be exact. That is less than a can of pop. Ava will tell you that even though her early birth meant she has cerebral palsy (CP), which affects her muscle movements, she still loves pancakes piled…
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Toss aside any stereotype ideas and images you might have about someone with a disability, especially CP, Cerebral Palsy. Meet Ne’ha, quite an accomplished young woman—already an author, dancer, rights advocate, life coach, business lady, and currently a university student taking online classes toward a degree in computer security. Neha loves computers and learning a…
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How do dancers dance in isolation? Or perform? What about new choreography? I interviewed several dancers from Young Dance, a Minnesota-based dance company, a unique dance company. Dancers audition. Dancers are of all-abilities and all ages. These dancers are amazing. Their movements are strong, beautiful, and surprising. Young Dance performances create magic, a connection with…
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