On March 4th, Victor and I attend the Reel Abilities festival, which acknowledges activists in the disabilities community. Kitty Lunn was recognized as one of these activists, and was chosen out of many candidates.
First a documentary was shown about Kitty Lunn and everything she does for people with disabilities. It focused on the organization she started, the Infinity Dance Theater. She founded the dance company in 1995, because there were no organizations that offered her the opportunity to professionally dance, due to her paralysis.
Kitty had been a dancer her entire life, and had a performance coming up right before her injury. She was paralyzed in the hospital for three years, but managed to regain her strength and fight for her passion. This is why she created the dance company, which has grown and given many people with disabilities the opportunity to dance and stay active, including herself.
After the documentary on Kitty’s story and impact, Kitty than did a dance, with one of her students named Krishna. My group interviewed Krishna prior to the performance, so it was amazing to watch her dance in person.
Krishna is a blind dancer, but that definitely did not get in the way of her dancing. She and Kitty were remarkable. Krishna used her walking stick as a prop, and made it look like a magic wand. At one point in the dance she balanced on one leg, with the other lifted up behind her in a perfect straight line, and her wand (walking stick) pointed up into the air, causing me to shiver with excitement. Kitty used her wheelchair for beautiful spins, and fast glides across the stage.
They took two objects that are looked at as objects for people who can’t stay active, and turned these objects, into not obstacles, but items that allow and advance the world of dance.
Kitty is an inspiration to my social justice group and many others, who we saw attend the event. Kitty has brought justice to the sports world for people with disabilities, and has brought hope to so many who thought it was not possible to dance with a disability.
I am so thankful I was able to watch Kitty and Krishna dance this weekend, and learn more about a women who is an inspiration to so many, and deserves to be.
