Abilities Dance reimagines fairytales through a disability lens in ‘Tales from the Crips’
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What if Sleeping Beauty suffered from long COVID and was battling deep-seated fatigue rather than a wicked spell? What if audiences identified more with the misunderstood beast than the delicate beauty? Classic fairytales are flipped on their heads in “Tales from the Crips: Reimagining Fairy Tales from a Disabled Lens,” a new original ballet from Abilities Dance.
Inspired by the book “Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space” by Amanda Leduc, the ballet looks at six different fairytales (“Mulan,” “Snow White,” “Maiden Without Hands,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Little Mermaid”) through the eyes of the deaf/disabled community. Tropes and harmful patterns are broken down and stories re-center the identities that have long been neglected in classic tales.
“These stories were inspired both by the dancers that are in all these different pieces, as well as thinking of these different fairy tales that I also grew up reading and watching and understanding,” said Patterson. “That has allowed me to think of who are the villains of our stories, and how are they portrayed. Usually, through disability and disfigurement.”
“Tales from the Crips” premieres Nov. 8 and 9 at the Strand Theatre. PHOTO: BILL PARSONS/MAXIMAL IMAGE
Abilities Dance is a professional dance company that uses performance to advocate for intersectional disability rights in Boston and beyond. Dancers of all abilities perform original works with the company each season.
The performance is choreographed and directed by Ellice Patterson, founder and executive and artistic director of Abilities Dance. Andrew Choe, director of music and operations, crafted the original score.
“Fairy tales are never just ‘only stories’, but instead teach us crucial things about the world…what might happen when these stories, re-imagined in a way that puts disability at the center, open up new vistas for us all?” said Leduc. In a gesture of support, Leduc will fly to Boston from Toronto for opening night of the performance.
Abilities Dance Boston. PHOTO: BILL PARSONS/MAXIMAL IMAGE
“Tales from the Crips” runs for its world premiere November 8 and 9 at the Strand Theatre. The show will also be livestreamed and include audio descriptions, captions and ASL interpretation. General admission tickets start at $35 but there are unlimited of sliding-scale tickets to allow attendees of all economic positions to experience the piece. Masks are required for the in-person performance.
Patterson hopes to work with a community partner to have diverse books and merchandise available at the performance as well.
“What if the end of the story wasn’t overcoming the disability, but it was embracing disability and diversity in general,” said Patterson. “It can be relevant for anyone at any age to think about how they can unlearn some of the stereotypes and lack of nuanced thinking when it comes to identities that are not theirs.”
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