This Zero Project Awardee demonstrates how inclusive dance and interactive education help young people to challenge stereotypes, appreciate disability as an enrichment, and build more open school communities.
Founded in Los Angeles in 2017, Infinite Flow Dance is a professional company and non-profit organization that employs dancers with and without disabilities to promote a more inclusive world through the performing arts. Its Elementary School Assemblies program combines professional dance performances with inclusive education, offering students the opportunity to experience disability as a natural and valuable part of human diversity. By 2023, the program had reached more than 10,000 students at 25 mainstream schools across the United States.
The interactive, 45-minute school assemblies use dance, storytelling, and audience participation to spark conversations about disability awareness, accessibility, and belonging. Professional dancers with diverse life experiences—including physical, sensory, intellectual, neurodivergent, and invisible disabilities—perform alongside dancers without disabilities, demonstrating that artistic excellence and inclusion go hand in hand. Students are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and develop a deeper understanding of disability from an early age.
Beyond inspiring the audience, the program addresses a significant societal issue. Children with disabilities are disproportionately affected by bullying and exclusion, often due to a lack of knowledge about disabilities and insufficient representation in schools. By sharing disability history, inclusive language, and authentic role models through engaging performances, Infinite Flow helps create a more respectful and welcoming learning environment where differences are celebrated rather than misunderstood.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Infinite Flow further expanded its reach, creating "Scoops of Inclusion," a 47-minute digital film and accompanying educational platform based on its live performances. This free resource allows teachers, families, and schools worldwide to access disability inclusion education, regardless of location. By 2023, more than 800 users—including teachers, parents, school administrators, and community members from the US and beyond—had registered to use the platform. By combining world-class dance with meaningful education, Infinite Flow Dance demonstrates how the arts can transform perceptions of disability, foster empathy, and empower the next generation to build more inclusive schools and communities—one dance at a time.