Abilities Dance Boston’s fifth iteration of the Intersections series offered a powerful example of what performance can become when disability culture, artistry, and advocacy are centered together. This year’s production, highlighting BIPOC and disabled honorees past and present, also uplifted queer/trans, womxn, nonbinary, and other intersecting identities whose lives and leadership shape our communities.

Abilities Dance Boston invited Claudia Alick, of Calling Up Justice, to participate as one of the 2026 honorees alongside Dr. Baiyina Muhammad, Casandra Xavier, and Tom Wiggins. Prior to the performance, Claudia was interviewed by the creative team, attended a meeting, and had the opportunity to speak directly with dancers involved in the process. Those exchanges reflected the care and rigor behind the work.

“Part of our work is to continue pushing who belongs in dance, who should be telling the stories that we’re telling. How do we authentically tell those stories and have that resonate with folks like us and not like us?” said Patterson.

The show combined ballet and modern dance movements with scores by Abilities Dance Boston’s director of music Andrew Choe.

When Claudia later watched the livestreamed performance, she was deeply moved by the production’s blend of access aesthetics, political urgency, and artistic excellence. The visual descriptions were especially strong—beautifully crafted and fully integrated into the experience rather than treated as an afterthought. The dancers delivered nuanced, compelling performances that honored the stories entrusted to them.

The show also connected each honoree’s lived experience to current legislation on the Massachusetts state floor, making clear how policy directly impacts disabled lives and futures. That combination of movement, narrative, and advocacy created a performance that was emotionally resonant and materially relevant.

Most of all, Claudia appreciated that the event was available online. Livestream access meant she could witness, celebrate, and participate from afar. In a field where disabled audiences and artists are too often excluded by geography, health, or infrastructure, the decision to share the work virtually demonstrated a meaningful commitment to access and community.

Intersections stands as a reminder that accessible art is not lesser art—it is richer, smarter, and more connected to the world we are trying to build.