Acordar: IV Festival of Adapted Dance
By Antonio Jarudi
The IV Festival of Adapted Dance Acordar (“Awaken”) is an initiative of the Amigo Curitibano Program, held by Curitiba City Hall via the Social Action Foundation and the Municipal Secretariat for Sports and Recreation, in partnership with Universidade Positivo (UP). It was created with the aim of providing disabled people with the opportunity to showcase their talent through dance. UP teachers Maria de Fatima Sipoli and Gisele Kliemann and City Hall employees Marcia Walter of the Municipal Secretariat for Sports and Recreation and Maria Vanderleia Garcia Santos of the Social Action Foundation were the project’s mentors.The IV Festival of Adapted Dance Acordar is not competitive and aims to encourage the practice of dance for the disabled, bringing together the population treated in charities that care for the disabled; special education schools in Curitiba; Community Rehabilitation groups developed in FAS’ Regional offices; and the academic audience, providing opportunities for participants to present their work in the area of dance in any style or mode.From its second year on, each edition of the Festival has had a specific theme, “Dance Around The World (countries)”, “Brazilian Folklore” and “Contemporary Dance”.In June 2010, the IV Festival of Adapted Dance Acordar boasts the participation of 15 schools and 140 dancers with presentations in the morning and afternoon.Acordar’s motto is: Believe in yourself! The universe is the limit! Give yourself the opportunity to “awaken” every day and share with others the best of what God gives us: the privilege of being, and making others, happy.
