VOA – CONNECT

EPISODE # 320
AIR DATE: 03 01 2024
FULL SHOW TRANSCRIPT


SHOW OPEN
((Animation))
((VO/NAT/SOT))
((Title))
Diverse Books
((SOT))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
And right away noticed that not that much has changed since I was young. There was hardly any books about Asian American kids. And so, I began to write for my children’s sake.
I really hope that diversity, especially in children’s books, becomes just normal, not something we have to talk about, that it is just something that happens and it’s in everyday life.
((Animation))
((Title))
Blind Hockey
((SOT))
((Ed Kerrigan
Coach))
I'm hoping that it becomes a Paralympics sport. Right now it's not. Their goal is for 2028 right now in Los Angeles. Hopefully they'll get it to there.
((Animation))
((Title))
Telling True Disability Stories
((SOT))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
It is thrilling to have the same monologue be expressed by two humans of two completely different experiences.
I realize that it's not so scary, so dark, and make it more accessible for them.
((Animation))


((TITLE)) DIVERSE BOOKS
((TRT: 08:09))
((Producer/Camera/Editor: June Soh))
((Map: Rockville, Maryland))
((Main characters: 1 female; 0 male))
((Sub characters: 1 female; 0 male))
((Blurb: When Ellen Oh had her first child, she could hardly find books about Asian-American kids for her daughter. So, she decided to write books for her children and co-founded a non-profit organization We Need Diverse Books. Here’s a story about a lawyer who turned to be a children’s book author.))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
This is my newest book, You Are Here. It’s a collection of stories
that I worked on with 11 other authors. And it is about 12 characters that are trapped in an airport when a racist incident happens, and it's how these Asian-American kids deal with it. I think the most important message of You Are Here is that Asian-Americans are just as American as any other American, that we belong here just like anyone else does.
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
My name is Ellen Oh. I am a children's book and young adult author and a founding member of We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing diversity in children's books.
((Photo Courtesy: Ellen Oh))
When I had my first child, I wanted to get all the books for her because I was a big reader when I was younger. I loved reading. ((end Courtesy))
And so, when she was born, I remember going to the bookstore
and looking for books for her, and right away I noticed that not much had changed since I was young. There was hardly any books about Asian-American kids. There were a few, but just not a lot. And I remember thinking, ‘Wow, you know, I wanted to write the books for my kids. I wanted to write the books that I wish I had when I was young. And so, I began to write for my children's sake.
((Skye Oh
Daughter))
My mom's first book, Prophecy, came out when I was in middle school, and I think the most important part to me was feeling represented in literature in a book that I was reading. So, it was really empowering. It made me feel less alone. And as an Asian-American, it was a huge segue into feeling seen and heard and diversifying our classroom libraries for schools and everywhere.
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
I used to be a lawyer, and I left my work to start writing and also to teach. I was teaching at George Mason University. And then I realized that I really wanted to focus more of my attention on the writing process. But at the same time, what was happening in the industry was this movement of people who were very unsatisfied with the lack of diversity in children's literature.
((Photo Courtesy: Ellen Oh))
We Need Diverse Books really started off as a group of authors,
illustrators, librarians, teachers, agents, editors, a whole bunch of people that were part of the children's book literature industry. ((end Courtesy))
Because honestly, it's a great group of people involved in the industry who really wanted to see systemic change happen, bring more diversity, not only in the books that were being published, but also within the industry. One of our most important programs is the internship program, where we actually help college students from various marginalized backgrounds enter into publishing.
((Photo Courtesy: Ellen Oh))
We actually provide grants, and we give books away to schools in need across the country. I think right now we are over 100,000 books given. A lot of times some of these kids, it is the first experience for them to have their own book.
((end Courtesy))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
We've heard stories about kids taking the books home and like sleeping with them because it's their first ever book.
((Photo Courtesy: Ellen Oh))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
My parents came from Korea when I was two [years old],
((end Courtesy))
and I grew up mostly in Brooklyn, New York.
((Photo Courtesy: Ellen Oh))
It was pretty hard because my parents were very poor.
((end Courtesy))
We didn't have babysitting services. So, I remember being very young and being left in the library because it was one of the safest places for a young child to be at. And in fact, that's why I think my parents owe my…owe the New York City Library lots of babysitting money for all the times they left me there under the care of the librarians. I read every book that I could get my hands on.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Photo Courtesy: Ellen Oh))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
Growing up in New York, I dealt with a lot of racism, especially in school. I had a lot of bullying issues.
((end Courtesy))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
I think there were a lot of terrible things for people to say, but I do think the worst thing and the thing I heard the most was, ‘Go back to your own country and you don't belong here.’ And I think that the reason why that is so horrible is because I didn't know any other country. This was the only country I know. I consider myself a Korean American. And so, for somebody to tell me, ‘No, you don't belong here,’ it really was the reason why I developed really a lot of insecurity and self-loathing.
((NATS))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))
So, I do a lot of research, and my favorite research has been Asian History. I learned so much about Korean history just from research. I realized that it was not something I learned in school.
So, researching has been a passion of mine. I've been able to really learn so much and integrate them into my stories. One of my best research experiences was actually researching what happened to my family during the Korean War, and that became the basis for my novel, Finding Junie Kim.

((NATS))
((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))

I hope that my books appeal broadly, that they aren't only for

Korean American kids. I hope that I write them in a way that anybody would pick them up and be interested in the story that I'm telling.

((NATS))

((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))

I actually am very happy. I'm happier now than when I was practicing law. That's the truth, that's the truth, except my mom is still very unhappy that I left my law career behind. She still asks me, ‘Well, when are you going to go back and be a lawyer?’ And I'm like, ‘No, never.’ I love what I'm doing. I love writing, especially.

((Photo Courtesy: Ellen Oh))

My favorite thing is going to schools and meeting students across the country, and just talking with them and hearing from them. Every time someone tells me they love my book, it's probably the best feeling in the world.
((end Courtesy))

((NATS/MUSIC))

((Ellen Oh

Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))

When I'm not writing or researching or working, my favorite way to relax is watching Korean dramas because I think they have some of the best character development also. So, when I'm writing, sometimes the hardest thing for me is writing those strong character relationships. And I love watching K-dramas [Korean dramas] because I feel like it really helps me develop my own characters in my own stories.

((NATS))

((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))

I love going to the library to write. It's still my favorite place to go and work. I get to do research and it's a lovely space. It's my favorite.

((NATS))

((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))

I am working on my next book, which is a sequel to Colliding World, a young adult novel that comes out next year.

((NATS/MUSIC))

((NATS: Ellen Oh))

I'm going to take this one out.

((NATS/MUSIC))

((Ellen Oh
Co-Founder, We Need Diverse Books))

I really hope that diversity, especially in children's books, becomes just normal, not something we have to talk about, that it is just something that happens and it's in everyday life. I think that we, all of us, need to appreciate all books.

((NATS/MUSIC))

TEASE
((VO/NAT/SOT))
More after the break…
((Title))
Blind Hockey
((SOT))
((Yaakov Hockey
Player))
When I first put on skates, I was so scared, like I was crying. I was extremely scared. My mom literally had to drag me onto the ice and then I realized, oh, it's not that bad.


BUMPER
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((SOCIAL MEDIA PKG.))
((TITLE)) BLIND HAIRSTYLIST / INNER VISION
((TRT: 01:04))
((Original Producer/Camera/Editor: June Soh))
((Social Media Producer/Editor: Lisa Vohra))
((Blurb: Martha Clements lost her vision 15 years ago due to a blood clot that affected her lungs and heart. But her blindness hasn’t dampened her love for hairstyling and her determination to live life to the fullest.))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Martha Clements
Hairstylist))
My name is Martha Clements. I am a hairstylist. I'm a mother of two and I’ve been blind for 15 years.
((Martha Clements
Hairstylist))
I decided to go to the Virginia School for the Blind. When I was in the school, my teacher kept saying, “Why don’t you do hair? I said, “Hello, I am blind. Nobody is going to allow me to do hair.” So, she allowed me to cut her own hair. Everybody allowed me to cut their hair and practice on their hair.
((NATS: Clements and Maria))
Very nice.
((Martha Clements
Hairstylist))
I usually prepare my family's meals. I crochet scarves for the poor, the homeless. I love to volunteer. I love to help people. ((NATS: Clements and Kathy))
Kathy, thank you so much for coming today and be my guardian angel.
You're welcome. It’s a mutual gift, Martha, you know that.
((Martha Clements
Hairstylist))
I am always being a positive person.
((NATS: Clements and woman))
Pray for the peace in the world.
((Martha Clements
Hairstylist))
I am proud blind person, and I'm very thankful to God.
BUMPER
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((TITLE)) BLIND HOCKEY
((TRT: 05:30))

((Reporter/Camera: Aaron Fedor))
((Editor: Kyle Dubiel))
((Producer: Kathleen McLaughlin))

((Map: Syosset, New York))
((Main characters: 4 female; 4 male))
((Sub characters: 0 female; 0 male))
((Blurb: A visit with visually impaired hockey players who are members of the NY Metro Blind Hockey Team.))
((NATS))
((Ed Kerrigan
Coach))
This is a normal sized regulation puck. This is a puck for blind hockey. This puck has no sound. This has eight ball bearings in it, so they're not only hear it slide on the ice, but they hear it rattling around, which a lot of times the goalie, I'll ask them, how does he pick the puck out of the air? And he just points to his ears. He goes, “I hear the puck in the air. I hear the sound.”
((NATS))

((Yaakov
Hockey Player))
I found out about the league when my mom was looking into sports for me, when she found out that in school I was doing very bad in gym class. The gym teacher always would say, “No, you have a visual impairment. You're not allowed to play in the gym class. You are going to get hurt.”
((NATS))
((Yaakov
Hockey Player))
When I first put on skates, I was so scared, like I was crying. I was extremely scared. My mom literally had to drag me onto the ice and then I realized, oh, it's not that bad.
((NATS))
((Ed Kerrigan
Coach))
Basically the same game as hockey, except once they cross the blue line, the ref [referee] has an electronic whistle. They have to make one pass before they can shoot. That whistle lets them know they have to make the pass. Also lets the goalie know that there's a potential shot coming on net. Once the puck goes into the crease and it falls to the ice, it's dead, where in regular hockey, you could still play the puck. It's automatically dead and there's a face off in the other circle. Other than that, it's basically regular hockey. We've got from beginners right now to Josh, who's on the national team.
((NATS))
((John O’Connell
Hockey Player))
My low vision specialist doctor…actually, I don't know how we got talking about hockey actually. He used to certify the USA blind hockey team, and I guess we got talking about hockey. And I told him I played hockey when I was younger. And we were trying to pinpoint when I started to lose my vision. And my particular disease moves very, very, very slowly. And at the time I just thought I was approaching 40 [years of age]. And I just, you have trouble seeing the puck. I mean, you don't think that you're going blind. I told them I didn't want to do it at first because, to be honest with you, I thought it was going to be very depressing. I thought it was going to be a bunch of kids, adults who are blind, who really aren't playing hockey. They're kind of shuffling their feet and everybody's telling them, good job. And that's, that's not hockey. That's really depressing. And he told me, no, no, it's not that. It's really fast. And he told me about this puck and making noise, and I said, well, I'll go check it out. And then I did. And it really is hockey.
((NATS))
((Monique Koehler
Player’s Parent))
Blind Hockey came to the United States from Canada in 2014. It's been about nine years now, and New York was the first state to have Blind Hockey. Now we're probably in about 12 states. And the way we do it, all the programs are at different levels of sophistication and size. So, they'll have tournaments a couple of times annually, and players register individually, and then they make teams that are well-balanced. I got involved with the team really at the beginning. It was 2017. A dad of a boy, who's the same age as my son, asked me if I would help get this program off the ground. And I said, “Sure, why not? My son loves hockey.” And here we are, seven years later.
((NATS))

((Ed Kerrigan
Coach))
I'm hoping that it becomes a Paralympics sport. Right now, it's not. Their goal is for 2028 right now in Los Angeles. Hopefully, they'll get it to there.
((Saej Chung
Hockey Player))
I actually did judo for a long time, from 2013 onward, and I had the opportunity to compete in the Paralympic games. And so, I decided to switch over to a team sport and see what that's like. I definitely want to get to a point where I can be a part of Team USA. That'd be awesome.
((NATS))
((Jennie Gausman
Player Parent))
They have a great time where they…they get to just hang out and just have people with other vision impairments. And it's a community that's very tight knit. So you get to cheer each other on and have a ball while you're doing it. And I have to say that Liam has made some really good friends.
((Liam
Hockey Player))
Just like give it a try. And like it's really fun. You just got to like take a risk.
((NATS))
((Yaakov
Hockey Player))
Just that you can do anything you put your mind to even if you're blind.
((NATS))

((TITLE)) TELLING TRUE DISABILITY STORIES
((Previously aired July 2023))
((TRT: 08:45))
((Reporter/Camera: Aaron Fedor))
((Editor: Kyle Dubiel))
((Producer/Photography: Kathleen McLaughlin))
((Map: New York City, New York))
((Main characters: 0 female; 1 male))
((Sub characters: 1 female; 0 male))
((Blurb: Actor/playwright Ryan J. Haddad crafts sometimes challenging, sometimes dark, sometimes humorous autobiographical plays. Through his work he reflects the experience of living with disability, finds new ways to make theater accessible to all and calls for more opportunities for disabled performers.))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((NATS: Ryan J. Haddad))
Why are you telling me?
Why are you telling me?
((Courtesy: Falling for Make Believe/The Public Theater))
Why are you telling me my new philosophy?
The teacher gave a D on last week’s homework.
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
My theater career began crawling around the living room when I was two and three years old. I would be watching Disney movie cartoons, princess movies, and just want to act them out. I couldn't walk at the time. My primary mode of transportation was
((Courtesy: Ryan J. Haddad))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
crawling around either on my hands and knees, or later, I learned to just crawl on my knees and sort of hobble around that way. And maybe sometimes I would pretend I was Prince Charming, but often I was pretending that I was a princess. Disney movies were my way in.
((Courtesy: Ryder Haske, Director of Photography/Lookout Productions/Woolly Mammoth Theatre))
((NATS: Ryan J. Haddad))
Grindr is a hookup app that tells you how close you are to the nearest gay, bi, or "straight" man.
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
I went to a liberal arts school called, Ohio Wesleyan, in Delaware, Ohio, at a school where I had a theater scholarship and was encouraged to be a theater major. The professors were having difficulty finding ways for me to fit in into the plays that were offered.
((Courtesy: Ryder Haske, Director of Photography/Lookout Productions/Woolly Mammoth Theatre))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
And I didn't know if it was because I wasn't good enough, or because I walked with a walker, and they weren't quite sure what to do with somebody who walked with a walker. So then I met Tim Miller,
((Courtesy: Leo Garcia))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
a gay and loudly political and outspoken performance artist.
((Courtesy: Alistair McCartney))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
Tim Miller comes to universities, still to this day, and does these workshops, teaching people how to make autobiographical performance.
((Courtesy: Ryan J. Haddad))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
And Tim said, "This is what you're supposed to be doing. You are supposed to be telling your own stories.
((Courtesy: Ryder Haske, Director of Photography/Lookout Productions/Woolly Mammoth Theatre))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
You are supposed to be playing Ryan and not pretending that his name is Tony or Paul or whatever fictional name you make up.
((Courtesy: Falling for Make Believe/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
You're not supposed to hand it to another actor. You're supposed to play yourself.
((Courtesy: Ryder Haske, Director of Photography/Lookout Productions/Woolly Mammoth Theatre))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
You can do it. You can make a career of it. Your voice matters. Your gay, disabled voice matters.” And I made a senior project that was called, “Hi, Are You Single?”
((Courtesy: Ryder Haske, Director of Photography/Lookout Productions/Woolly Mammoth Theatre))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
Hi, Are You Single? Hi, Are You Single? Hi, Are You Single?
Hi, Are You Single? Hi, Are You Single? Hi, Are You Single?
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
And that is…continues to be the play that I am most known for, that I've performed around the country, and been critically acclaimed and nominated for awards.
((NATS: Ryan J. Haddad; Alejandra Ospina))
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
I dashed to the bathroom door.
((Voice of Alejandra Ospina, Actor))
They charged toward each other.
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
I parked the walker.
((Voice of Alejandra Ospina, Actor))
They face out.
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
I grabbed the door handle and it's locked. Someone else is using the restroom.
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
“Dark Disabled Stories” is a series of unforgiving,
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
sometimes raunchy, sometimes scandalous and a little scary vignettes about my life, navigating New York City with a walker, and being faced with not only
((Courtesy: The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
physical infrastructure that isn't built with me in mind, but also strangers and their perceptions
((Courtesy: The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
of me, based on what they believe disability to mean in the world. I think a major prevailing disability narrative in society is inspiration and empowerment. There has to be some happy ending or triumph
((Courtesy: The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
within the life of a disabled person to make their life seemingly worth living, and/or worth having a story that is told, so that others can feel good about them. We call it inspiration porn, and I'm really trying to play against that entirely.
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
There's nothing inspiring about this show. There's nothing, there’s nothing that's meant to just tug at your heartstrings. It's just real, raw, honest truth.
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
So in our show, the access is built into the performance. It isn't put on top of the performance. It was part of the process from the beginnings of rehearsals and the beginnings of design. And it is manifested in two major ways via performers giving their own full, brilliant, rich performances.
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
That is Alejandra Ospina, who is our audio describer, and who describes all stage actions and stage pictures and movement and projections. All the images that are being seen, she is describing for blind and low-vision audience members.
And then she joins us on stage to give her own monologue and tell a story from her own point of view,
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
talking about what it is to be a woman in New York City in a motorized wheelchair.
((NATS: Ryan J. Haddad; Alejandra Ospina))
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
…Accessible To You.
((Voice of Alejandra Ospina, Actor))
The word "YOU" is projected in large letters.
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
Dickie Hearts is playing Ryan alongside Ryan, and giving his performance entirely in American sign language. He is a deaf actor.
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
It is thrilling to have the same monologue be expressed by two humans of two completely different experiences.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
I realize that it's not so scary, so dark, and make it more accessible for them.
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
Whenever there's a conversation about diverse storytelling, disability needs to be included in that conversation. And we must be at the point where disabled characters are no longer played by non-disabled actors, whether they are a box office draw or not.
((Courtesy: The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
If you want to be telling a disabled story, you damn well better be using a disabled performer to do it.
((Courtesy: Ryan J. Haddad))
It's not just about representation. It's about opportunity. It's about
career advancement. It's about financial security and stability. And the bigger hurdle, that's such an important hurdle, is only giving disabled actors the opportunity to audition, the opportunity to participate when the role is written to be disabled.
((Courtesy: Falling for Make Believe/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
Because I can play almost anybody. I can play a neighbor, a teacher, a father, an uncle, a date that goes well or goes bad. None of those things have to have disability written into the script. And yet, often, the majority of disabled performers, working, and trying to be working, trying to make a living in this business,
((Courtesy: Ryder Haske, Director of Photography/Lookout Productions/Woolly Mammoth Theatre))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
are only invited to the table, or even invited to the door where the table is inside, if the role says specifically, "We're seeking disabled talent for this explicitly disabled role."
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
The world of show business didn't want me to be a star. And so, I've created vehicles, as a professional writer, performer, to allow myself, for 60 minutes or 75 minutes at a time, to tell my story. I do want to be someone who can command a stage, and who can tell stories of the disability experience of great depth, and nuance, and complexity, and sexiness, and darkness,
((Courtesy: Jonathan Rodriguez/The Public Theater))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
without having to apologize to anyone, without having to concede the spotlight to someone who is not disabled. I know my worth as a performer and storyteller,
((Courtesy: Ryan J. Haddad))
((Ryan J. Haddad
Playwright, Actor))
and I'm not going to say I wasn't willing to give up, because that just sounds like I'm, I’m catering to an inspiring inspiration-porn narrative of empowered disability. And I'm very fortunate. And I've worked very, very hard to get here. And I'm not taking it for granted. But I'm also not surprised, because I knew this was where I was meant to be, and I wasn't going to allow anyone to tell me otherwise.
((NATS: Audience applause))
((Courtesy: Ryder Haske, Director of Photography/Lookout Productions/Woolly Mammoth Theatre))


CONNECT AMERICA
((TITLE)) NATURE: GREWINGK GLACIER

((TRT: 02:05))
((Camera/Editor/Producer: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Location: Kachemak State Park, Alaska))

((Description: Ice skating on Grewingk Glacier Lake in Kachemak State Park, Alaska.))

IN COMING WEEKS
((VO/NAT/SOT))
In coming weeks…
((Title))

Home of the Brave
((SOT))
((Title))

Rejuvenating Urban Forests
((SOT))


BUMPER
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((SOCIAL MEDIA PKG.))
((TITLE)) ILL-ABILITIES
((TRT: 01:00))
((Original Reporter/Producer: Marsha James))
((Original Camera: Philip Alexiou))
((Original Editors: Randall Taylor and Philip Alexiou))
((Social Media Producer/Editor: Lisa Vohra))
((Blurb: Members of ‘ILL-Abilities’ an international breakdance group with different types of disabilities share their stories through hip hop.))
((Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
Kill it. Enjoy yourselves. Have fun, most important thing.

((Courtesy: The Kennedy Center))
((Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
On the stage, there are seven dancers representing six different countries with incredible abilities. We have one simple message that's helped us overcome a lot of challenging moments throughout our lives.
((NATS))
((Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
No Excuses.
No Limits.
((Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
ILL-ABILITIES is a play on words.‘ILL’ literally means sick. But in hip hop, it means amazing and incredible.
((Lucas “Perninha” Machado
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
I was born with a short left leg.
((Jung Soo “Krops” Lee
DJ & ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
While I was practicing the next battle in France, I fall down with my neck and my body was totally paralyzed.
((Samuel Henrique “Samuka” da Silveira Lima
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
Can you imagine being 14 years old, losing a part of your body? ((Sergio “Checho” Carvajal
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
Many close-minded people tried to bully me every day.
((Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli
ILL-ABILITIES Dancer))
Take the time to believe in what you're doing. Just because something is different, it doesn't mean that it's wrong.
BUMPER
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SHOW ENDS