Indrani Mukerjea
On the eve of International Dance Day, Indrani Mukerjea Enterprise (IME) hosted "Dance Is for Everybody" at Mumbai's Veda Kunba Auditorium - an inclusive celebration where disabled dancers and performers across seventeen disability categories stepped forward - not to be showcased as exceptions, but to be celebrated as artists in their own right.
The dancers represented a wide spectrum of disabilities, including blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, chronic neurological conditions, intellectual and learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language impairments, locomotor disability, dwarfism, mental illness, multiple disabilities, leprosy-cured status, and survivors of acid attacks.
Each performer brought a unique story to the stage, demonstrating that dance is not about symmetry or speed-but about presence, spirit, and truth.
From a wheelchair pirouetting to a melancholic beat to a national anthem performed in Sign Language, every piece stitched itself into a larger story: resilience in motion.
"The word 'disability' hides within it the only thing that truly matters: ability. And ability is what deserves every stage," said Mukerjea, in her opening remarks.
Curated by renowned choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, who served as sutradhar for the evening, the event flowed seamlessly between dance forms, abilities, and emotions.
"Art was never meant to be measured by perfection," Soparrkar reflected. "It was always meant to celebrate the soul. And at âDance Is For Every Body', it was the soul that took centre stage."
At its core, IME is not just a production platform - it is a creative movement. Founded in 2023 by Indrani Mukerjea, it seeks to transform the idea of who belongs in the world of art. Through adaptive performance, inclusive storytelling, and purposeful programming, IME aims to reframe cultural narratives around resilience, access, and dignity.
The event was marked by authentic collaboration: every performer, choreographer, emcee, and technician contributed their time pro bono. Inclusion wasn't a footnote - it was the foundation.
Following the performances, IME and Soparrkar emphasised that applause alone is not enough. They called for systemic changes: greater accessibility in arts education, the redesign of public venues with inclusion at their core, and continuous platforms for disabled artists to flourish year-round.
Surabhi Bansal, one of the performers, captured the spirit of the evening when she shared: "My wheelchair isn't a limitation - it's my partner. âDance Is For Every Body' wasn't about how we moved. It was about why we moved."
As the last beats faded from the stage, what remained was not just the memory of remarkable performances - it was the emergence of a new rhythm, a new way forward for Indian arts.
With Indrani Mukerjea Enterprise leading the way, International Dance Day was no longer just about celebration. It became a call to action: to build a world where every story moves, every body belongs, and no voice dances unseen
