The organisers of one of Europe’s largest disability arts events say more needs to be done to showcase disabled performers’ work.
The BBC reported that the team behind The Unity Festival marked the start of this year’s programme with a call for efforts to build on improvements so far.
The Unity Festival was started by Welsh theatre company Hijinx in 2008 and took place Cardiff.
Unity and Hijinx artistic director Ben Pettitt-Wade said the Festival was launched because of the difficulties facing disabled artists getting work.
He told the BBC things had improved, but added: “There is always room for more opportunity.”
Fernanda Amaral, the director of Brazilian dance company Dance without Frontiers, told the BBC the festival is important.
She said: “This festival brings together performers with and without disabilities, audience members with and without access needs, and we all have something important to share.”
Ms Amaral explained her approach to her piece at the Festival, a work named Fresta Poética, which is performed on the street.
She said: “We use canes because half our company has visual impairments. The use of crutches can turn disability into a “superpower.
“The ‘grand jete’, the high jump in ballet, is performed with crutches and the dancer is suspended in the air, which wouldn’t happen, of course, if they were dancing without crutches. It’s showing disabilities in a positive way.”
Mr Pettitt-Wade told the BBC having international acts was important. He said: “Our festival opens its doors to artists from all over the world and promotes Wales as the welcoming nation it is.”
