Abilities Dance

Abilities Dance Abilities Dance is a Boston-based nonprofit with disabled and diverse nondisabled dancers

Abilities is designed to provide a professional platform for dancers of all physical abilities. Rather than creating the choreography and casting dancers to fit that mold, we create the choreography to emphasize the dancers’ strengths and build on their limitations. We utilize musicians to create music customized to the movements and emotions conveyed in the piece. The customized piece gives an organic and unique experience that will engage and inspire audiences.

Did you know that the spare change from your everyday purchases can make a substantial difference for the disabled and d...
08/20/2026

Did you know that the spare change from your everyday purchases can make a substantial difference for the disabled and diverse artists and administrators within Abilities Dance Boston? ✨

As a nonprofit on RoundUp.org YOU can support our mission effortlessly. By simply rounding up your purchases, you help provide essential programs that:

1. bring physical/social/emotional wellness to students within our community engagement program ☮️
2.cultivate high quality productions for audiences near and far within our performing company program 🎟️
3. sustain equitable economic opportunities that support a more diverse workforce 👛

All you have to do is go to our RoundUp page through the link in bio; select the credit card you want to enroll; and set a maximum monthly donation. That's it!

If unable to give, share it with your networks as we are striving to build a community of grassroots donors making big impact.

ID: 1st image: Izzi in a deep lunge with one arm reaching out and the other at side with deep blue lighting. Black and blue heart with text "Your spare change can have a big impact on Abilities Dance Boston. 2nd image: Screenshot showing purchases being rounded up and a donation to date line of $12.25 Dark blue background with light blue textbox that reads "Every time you make a purchase, your total is rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the spare change goes to Abilities Dance Boston. Grab a coffee or book tickets - it all adds up to meaningful, ongoing support. Every donor who rounds up consistently for 3 months unlocks an additional $25! With monthly limits that you set, it’s an easy way to start supporting ADB. 3rd image: light blue heart in right corner and screenshot showing "Thank you! Help to get more donors by sharing our RoundUp page with icons of different platforms." Text reads "Know you're making a difference. You'll get a tax deduction receipt, and have an opportunity to invite others to support the cause."

08/16/2026

🔥 What does Firebird Part 2 make you feel?

Listen to Delante from DC and Paula from Boston share their reactions to Firebird Part 2—from artistic growth to the powerful emotional connections they made with mental health. ❤️‍🔥

Now, come experience it for yourself at the Firebird Part 2 restaging, September 18–20!

🎟️ Click the link in bio for tickets + more information.

What will Firebird Part 2 make you feel?

ID: Delante speaking to camera then cuts to image of Andrew conducting orchestra and next image has two dancers mid leap with feather scenery in background and striped lines on stage. Paula speaks to camera then cuts ot Ellice fully laid back in silks and another with her legs split and arm reaching out. Video then cuts to flyer about September 18 - 20 in person only show with more information at ticketstripe.com/adbfirebird926

🔥 WE NEED YOU! 🔥Our Firebird Part 2 performances are coming September 18–20, and we’re looking for volunteers to help ma...
08/15/2026

🔥 WE NEED YOU! 🔥

Our Firebird Part 2 performances are coming September 18–20, and we’re looking for volunteers to help make the magic happen! 🐦✨

From front-of-house setup and ticketing to other show-day support, there are lots of ways to get involved. Check the dates + times on our show flyer and see what works for you!

🎟️ Ready to volunteer? Email [email protected] for more info. Kiki or someone from our team will be in touch soon!

Come be part of the team behind the performance. ❤️

ID: 1st image red background with image of Ellice in Firebird costume and board members Greg an Tarsha smiling behind a painted feather background. Text reads "Call for volunteers. Firebird Part 2. September 18 - 20. Support our work by volunteering during our Firebird Part 2 September show weekend to support setting up front of house, ticketing, and more. Email [email protected] for more information."
2nd image = Black background with white text "Abilities Dance presents Firebird Part 2; September 18 - 20, 2026; In Person Only; Friday September 18th at 8:00 pm; Saturday September 19th at 7:00 pm; Sunday September 20th at 2:00 pm; Strand Theatre; 543 Columbia Rd. Boston, MA; Tickets: ticketstripe.com/adbfirebird926" Dara with arms bent behind in black jumpsuit to the left. Amaal in chevron tunic with hands facing out and fingers outstretched to the right. Ellice in bright red dress with hand underneath chin looking out in the center. ⁠
⁠

We had to jump on the trend. All of the good work ADB is doing = très chic 👠It also très chic to be a patron of the ar...
08/06/2026

We had to jump on the trend.
All of the good work ADB is doing = très chic 👠
It also très chic to be a patron of the arts. Support the original and community driven work that ADB is doing by donating in whatever amount you can.
If you're interested check out our website's donate page for more information. If unable to donate at this time, then share this cool post to elevate our chicness.
ID: 1st image: Text reads "kinda chic to have free/sliding scale tickets every show" Linda and Amaal on stage with deep red lights. Arms are raised as Linda faces right and Amaal faces left. Inner arms connected. They're wearing swirly tops and black leggings. 2nd image: Text reads "kinda chic to have free classes for both students and host sites" Mira is in a community room with old gym equipment around them and a site coordinator engaged in the activity as both have their arms stretched out and standing. 3rd image: Text reads "kinda chic to still be able to pay for it all with a small and mighty team" Ellice and Andrew smile to camera with disability pride background behind them. 4th image is black background text only "kinda chic for you to be a patron of the arts:
A monthly gift of just $5 supports three rehearsal hours for one dancer or one class hour with one teacher. You can round up your purchases to be $5/month or sign up for a monthly donation at abilitiesdanceboston.org/donate. Stay chic!"

08/05/2026

Hear Asha, Founder & Executive Director of SPACE, share what this partnership has meant to the community. While one flower keeps blooming, another opens—Hannah led classes throughout July, and now Jassi is stepping in to continue the growth through August.

The best partnerships take time to blossom. 🌼 Thanks to support from the , this collaboration finally came into full bloom, making these free dance classes possible.

We're excited to keep growing together. 💙 Which community should we visit next?

ID: Asha speaking to camera that cuts to clips of various scenes from different students cheerily skipping across the space, Hannah leading them into floor and standing movements, Hannah leading them to put their feet together and fall back like a flower shape and rise back up. Ending with a student happily skipping across the floor.

We're spending the summer moving, creating, and building community. ☀️💙We're thrilled to partner with the Somali Parents...
08/04/2026

We're spending the summer moving, creating, and building community. ☀️💙

We're thrilled to partner with the Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education to bring dance and creative movement to their summer program for elementary students and their siblings. Every class is a chance to connect, express, and have fun together.

Stay tuned for more moments from this partnership—and from the many communities Abilities Dance Boston is reaching this summer!

ID: Image of group of Somali youth seated and standing with adults around an ADB sign welcoming students to the program. Teacher Hannah seated in the far left corner.

08/04/2026

🎭 What happens when art meets authentic audience feedback?

Last week, Abilities Dance Boston celebrated Disability Pride at the Museum of Science with our community. 💙 Hear Lauren Kashan reflect on audience responses while watching clips from our Princex scene set to an excerpt of Andrew's wonderful classical score.

Want to experience the full performance? Join us for the restaging of Firebird Part 2. This in person only experience will create an ephemeral moment in time to live in this universe once more.

📅 September 18–20
📍Strand Theatre,
🎟️ticketstripe.com/adbfirebird926

Claire, Amaal, and Maddie took the stage at the Museum of Science this past weekend, performing an excerpt from Princex ...
07/29/2026

Claire, Amaal, and Maddie took the stage at the Museum of Science this past weekend, performing an excerpt from Princex for audiences across multiple levels of the museum. It was an incredible experience sharing dance with so many people in such a unique space.

Want to see the full vision? Join us September 18–20 for the restaging of Firebird Part 2, featuring the complete Princex scene among others. We can't wait to share it with you.

📅 September 18–20
🎟️ticketstripe.com/adbfirebird926
ID: Image of Maddie, Claire, and Amaal in different color blue dresses and blue top/pants with background of Disability Pride Month with striped rainbow across screen.

✨ Looking for weekend plans? Come celebrate Disability Pride with us at the Museum of Science! 💙♿Join Abilities Dance Bo...
07/24/2026

✨ Looking for weekend plans? Come celebrate Disability Pride with us at the Museum of Science! 💙♿

Join Abilities Dance Boston for an inspiring day filled with artists, scientists, community, and celebration of the vibrant disability community.

Last year, our founder Ellice Patterson wowed audiences with a powerful solo pictured in this week's WBUR weekend event list. This year, our incredible company dancers are giving an exclusive sneak peek of our upcoming September production with a special performance from Firebird. 🔥🩰

🎟️ Tap the link in our bio to reserve your spot!

We can't wait to celebrate, connect, and dance with you. See you there! 💫

ID: WBUR logo and text "5 things to do this weekend, including a Disability Pride Month celebration and Shakespeare on the Common. The Museum of Science holds a day honoring Disability Pride Month. Some of the highlights include a book signing by Amy S. Hansen, co-author of “Wanda Hears the Stars,” and a performance by Abilities Dance Boston, a dance company that strives to promote disability justice. There are also opportunities to meet scientists, including Monika Mitra of Brandeis University and Anna Voelker, executive director of AstroAccess and SciAccess. Violinist Adrian Anantawan, a musician who performs with an adaptive device on his bow arm, will delight audiences at 3 p.m. The schedule runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a museum ticket earns guests admission to the celebration." Image of Ellice on toes balancing on crutches with one leg raised high and text "Disability Pride Month" with a rainbow strip projected behind her.

07/23/2026

The best teachers never stop learning. When Ava taught at Josiah Quincy Upper School last year, she discovered that every class is a two-way exchange. 💫

From exploring movement textures to building community, the learning didn't just happen for students—it transformed the teacher, too.

🎥 Hear Ava share how teaching at ADB became a journey of growth for everyone in the room.

Interested in being part of that experience? Visit our Work With Us page to learn about opportunities to teach this and other classes.

ID: Ava speaking to camera as video interjects with short clips of movement phrases of students flourishing hands side to side, extending arms as they deeply bend to one side and more. Students have diverse identities with both apparent and non-apparent disabilities.

Address

Boston, MA

Telephone

+17814654032

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Abilities Dance posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Abilities Dance:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category