Abilities Dance

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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.

06/02/2026

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

The Firebird Part 2 trailer has officially landed. 🔥🕊️

In just 17 days, Abilities Dance Boston premieres a ballet one year in the making—and you won't believe how these characters take flight.

✨ Original story
✨ Inclusive artistry
✨ Created by us, for us

Will Firebird rise? Will the journey end in triumph? You'll have to see it for yourself.

💻 Livestream available on Juneteenth only
🎭 Live at BU Booth Theatre
📅 June 19–21
💲Free/sliding scale tickets so the work continues to remain accessible

Support local, original art and be part of something unforgettable.

🎟️ Register now at the link in bio or ticketstripe.com/adbfirebird2

ID: Trailer of two reporters talking before animation swirls and an animated Ellice falls between planets. It cuts to an image of an abstract painting, Ellice hanging above in aerial silks, and a scene of Claire, Dara, and Amaal rotating arms while stepping back into a big bend, and an ending scene of Ellice's grandmother speaking. It then cuts to a flyer with the above event information.

06/01/2026

June is here... and Firebird Part 2 is almost here too. 🔥🕊️

In less than 19 days, we'll gather online and in person for Firebird—a breathtaking multidisciplinary performance featuring ballet, animation, original music, visual art, and more, all created by disabled and diverse artists.

Have you secured your tickets yet? 🎟️

This work exists because of our incredible community. If you believe in diverse and disabled artistry and inclusive performances, here's how you can help:
✨ Get your tickets (virtual or in person)
✨ Share this post with your community
✨ Tag a friend who should experience Firebird
✨ Tell us in the comments: Who are you most excited to see shine on stage?

We'll start: Andrew Choe, conductor and composer of our orchestra. 🎼

The countdown is on. We can't wait to celebrate with you. ❤️

ID: Image with black background and Abilities Dance logo. Text reads 'Firebird Part 2 June 19 - 21, 2026; Boston University Booth Theater; Only livestreamed June 19; ticketstripe.com/adbfirebird2" Below is Claire and Dara in black jumpsuits with jumbled words and drawings throughout kicking out facing in. Amaal in a checkered pattern blue, white, and black tunic with black leggings seated with wrists crossed and hands flourished to side. Katie standing in the back with blue dress and arms stretched. Ellice in the center in a deep stretch with arms extended and one crutch.⁠

05/27/2026

Abilities Dance is thrilled to partner with Modern Connections to show a work in progress. We will be showing a duet we’re creating for Firebird Part 2 featuring Dara Capley and Claire Lane. We hope you’ll be able to make it to the Showcase on June 5, 2026 at 7 pm at the the Jackson Dance Lab at Tufts University.

Click https://givebutter.com/dip26 to attend the work in progress showing and share your feedback.

Access notes: This is not our event so you should reach out to Modern Connections for any access related questions. It will not be livestreamed. It also does not have AC In the studio so plan accordingly.

ID: Image of Dara Capley with a black jumpsuit and words scattered in a bent arabesque with arms bent behind. Text reads "Dances in Progress; Abilities Dance; June 5th at 7 pm; Medford, MA; Free" White Modern Connections logo in lower corner.

05/26/2026

Porter Square Books is excited to partner with Abilities Dance for a workshop on teaching and learning with deaf/disabled students. This workshop will be led by Ellice Patterson, Founder/Executive & Artistic Director of Abilities Dance Boston.

This conversation is intended to be culturally informed to highlight the cultural inequities that can exist within special education. Porter Square Books will donate 20% of sales from 5-7PM to Abilities Dance.

As a book lover, Ellice has “Ellice’s Picks” on display to help on your disability justice journey. Hope you can gift these books to yourself and your loved ones, while supporting our organization and a local bookstore.

RSVP at https://portersquarebooks.com/event/2026-05-31/be-change-workshop-abilities-dance-teaching-and-learning-deafdisabled-students

ID: 4 squares with different images. L - R: "Be the change: Porter Square books" with silhouettes of arms raised and signs. Red tinted image with Porter Square Books sign. Blue tinted image with signs that say "System change not climate change" "Our house is on fire!" and more. Yellow tinted image with Boston skyline. Text that reads " Be the Change Workshop with Abilities Dance: Teaching and learning with deaf/disabled students; May 31st, 2026 5:00 PM Cambridge Edition 1815 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140-1413"

05/25/2026

✨️40 acres and a mule...this is a bigger than a ballet✨️
Ellice's grandmother's grandparents (Deelie Randolph and Jerry Randolph) were enslaved. They endured unimaginable experiences to not just survive and thrive. (During our Juneteenth ballet remarks, we'll discuss how they got their acres which forever transformed the family line's future.) Our Juneteenth ballet is in dedication to them and every enslaved ancestor that has gotten our African-American community to where we are today.
Join us for a transformative ballet Juneteenth weekend for Firebird Part 2. Link in bio.
ID: 1st Image of an old photograph of Deelie with black hair tied back and white dress and black tie. 2nd image is of an old photograph of Jerry white brown slicked down hair, light eyes, and black suit with white tie.

05/15/2026

🚨 We made the summer must-do list! 🚨

Abilities Dance Boston was just featured as 1 of the 80 events to check out this summer — and trust us, you do NOT want to miss the premiere of 🔥 Firebird Part 2 🔥

✨ Read the Globe’s feature
✨ Grab your livestream or in-person tickets for Juneteenth weekend
✨ Tag the friend you’re bringing with you

This isn’t just a performance — it’s a movement, a celebration, and a story you’ll be talking about long after the curtain falls.

👉🏾 Tell us in the comments:
What are YOU most excited to experience in Firebird Part 2?

🎟️ Ticket link in bio.
ID: Excerpt of Boston Globe Article "In 2021, this company founded by Ellice Patterson presented her reimagining of the 1910 Stravinsky/Fokine ballet “Firebird.” Now Abilities Dance Boston is back with the world premiere of “Firebird, Part 2,” a two-act, evening-length sequel in which Patterson asks the question “What happens when the Firebird stops saving everyone else — and saves herself?” The original score is composed by Abilities Dance music director Andrew Choe; the performances will include audio description for blind/low-vision audiences and open captions and ASL interpretation for deaf/hard-of-hearing audiences. There will also be free and sliding-scale ticket options to ensure financial accessibility. June 19–20, 8 p.m.; June 21, 2 p.m. $45. John and Edgar Booth Theatre at Boston University. abilitiesdanceboston.org"
Second image is our flyer that features dancers in various poses in costume. Text reads Firebird Part 2 June 19 - 21 Boston University Booth Theatre *Only livestreamed on June 19* ticketstripe.com/adbfirebird2

05/10/2026

Small change. Big impact. By rounding up your purchases, you can help us use dance and art overall to support disability justice in greater Boston beyond by funding free tickets to our masterful productions or free classes for our disabled and diverse students across greater Boston.

Every cent adds up. Every swipe matters.

RoundUp.org makes it easy to round up all of your Visa or Mastercard transactions and give the spare change to Abilities Dance

Sign up now — https://www.roundup.org/nonprofits/abilities-dance-incorporated-ma-brookline-y9e20t3?utm_campaign=listing&utm_medium=site&utm_source=roundup

ID: Image of Claire and Dara at sides kicking legs out while crossing arms in center in black jumpsuits with words in random places. Amaal seated with wrists crossed at chest and hands out in a chevron tunic with blue accents. Katie standing behind them in blue dress with wrists crossed overhead.

05/03/2026

Cozy Sunday vibes + powerful storytelling ✨

Our latest production Intersections v5 is officially LIVE on YouTube 🎬

Tap in, watch, and drop your favorite piece + why it moved you 💬
Then share it and help us take inclusive dance from Boston to everywhere 🌍
📷️Jaypix
👚Rebirth Garments
ID: First image in red lighting of Amaal seated and Linda standing with arms bent in and leaning. They're wearing wavy colorful tops and black leggings. Second image is in blue lighting with Blake leaning on Tori's back and crutches/arms extended. Third image is Ellice in green lighting with lighter color wavy print top. She is standing on her knees with one arm extended.

04/26/2026

“‘I didn’t know what to expect…’ 💫 Listen to Anita’s first Intersections experience—then watch the magic unfold online for FREE✨
youtube.com/ to check out the full performance
Events

04/25/2026

**Intersections v5 is LIVE ✨**
Go to youtube.com/ to experience Izzi and our incredible dancers—plus the stories and journeys behind our 2026 honorees.

This work exists because of community. As we grow, so do the costs of uplifting disabled and diverse artists and administrators who make it all possible. If you can, donate today at givebutter.com/adb26intersections 💛

Not able to give right now? You can still make a huge impact:
🎥 Watch the performance
💬 Drop a comment
🔁 Share with your people

Every action helps us keep moving forward. We’re just getting started—there’s a powerful year ahead.

ID: Deep blue background with Izzi on stage in a deep lunge with one arm out and the other arm behind. Text reads 'Abilities Dance presents Intersections v5" Globes on the side. with text "Available Online"

Address

Boston, MA

Telephone

+17814654032

Website

http://www.abilitiesdanceboston.org/

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