4th Annual NYC Disability Pride Parade Draws Inclusive Crowds

On Sunday, July 15, I left my home in Hillsdale ready for fun and adventure in the Big Apple. Part of the entertainment committee for the 4thAnnual Disability Pride Parade and Festival, I was volunteering to help greet and assist the roster of talented performers, with and without disabilities, who had generously volunteered their time and talents to come support our common cause of access and inclusion for people with all types of disabilities.

The parade and festival, which this year drew around 10,000 attendees, according to event organizers, attracts individuals and groups from the tristate area and beyond. In the past, parade marchers and festival participants have included Bergen County residents from Hillsdale and Westwood and groups such as the River Vale-based Roll Call Wheelchair Dance. Serving Bergen and Rockland counties, this organization's mission is to bring the joy of dancing by providing social dancing programs for groups and facilities that serve populations of people in wheelchairs and adults and kids with movement disorders and developmental challenges.

This year's large and diverse audiences were definitely in a party mood, helped in large part by the inclusive lineup of entertainers. The TNT ALLSTARZ, a collective of dancers with developmental and intellectual disabilities based out of Gateway Counseling Center’s Bronx facility, got things off on the right foot with an upbeat dance performance.

“We were honored to perform at the NYC Disability Pride Parade and we hope that everyone enjoyed the show,” said Fred Romero, CEO at Gateway Counseling Center. “Creative self-expression through the arts is one of the many very important ways that we are able to self-actualize and opportunities to do so should never be limited based on disability. We actively support (TNT ALLSTARZ) and their representation of what can be achieved when everyone is provided with empowerment and supportive opportunities, rather than limitations.”

As a show of solidarity with the disability community to express themselves, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray offered her poem “Just Write” to be put to original music by singer/songwriter and disability advocate Blessing Offor. During the opening of the entertainment section, this original composition was performed by choir members of the prestigious Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School of the Lighthouse Guild.The choir members were joined by other audience participants — with and without disabilities — to premiere the poem/song live at the event.

Upping the energy level even more was an inclusive “Let’s Dance” party, in which everyone in the audience — no matter their ability — was invited to strut their stuff, bust some moves and make some noise. Many took out their phones to video and post on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter using #disabilitypridenyc to help spread the celebration. ZCO DANCE PROJECT, a diverse physically integrated dance company that explores movement and challenges the dancer’s artistic ability, led the inclusive dance. Started by Zazel Chaveh O’Garra — an accomplished dancer, actor, model, and brain tumor survivor — the troupe’s mission is to create performances that are witty, soulful, intelligent, powerful and intriguing in order to encourage the integration and inclusion of people with disabilities in dance and in society.

To the delight of the crowds, Whitney Marchelle Jackson & her band played some soulful blues and jazz tunes. Her band members were Sweet Lee Odon, who plays soprano, saxophone and alto; bassist Endea Owens, a Juilliard graduate who’s opened for Snoop Dog and more; Grammy winner Edsel Gomez, who plays piano/keyboard; and Russell Carter, a drummer who plays with Marc Cary.

Other highlights included Dane Brandt-Lubart, who treated the audience to excerpted highlights from his show “My Life on the Spectrum: A Tuneful Rally.” Dane, a 27-year-old autistic actor and singer, was accompanied by a band of 4 musicians — Roo O’Donnell on keyboards and back-up vocals; Katie Battistoni on guitar; Dane’s dad, Andre Lubart, on percussion; and Dane’s mom, Mia Brandt, on back-up vocals. Together, they took their listeners on a musical journey with a moving combination of uplifting monologues and cover songs.

“It was wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves,” said Marissa Lelogeais, who fronts the Merry Rockers, an inclusive reggae band. Marissa, who has cerebral palsy and low vision, noted: "Singing onstage, I feel empowered. While I have CP, I can still play music and sing songs I wrote, which I hope will make the people at the show smile…and dance!"

Marissa got her wish. She and the Merry Rockers had fans from the audience dancing at the base of the stage, off to the sides and in the aisles. Old and new friends joined together in singing along to a chorus of original lyrics written by Marissa.

Attendees were also digging and grooving to the can't-help-but-move tunes of The Deep Dig Band, the side-project of veteran NYC musicians who put a smooth, funky touch on a curated stable of soul and roots tunes from the American songbook.

“It was a pleasure to be part of such a beautiful event,” said Ray Levier, drummer for The Deep Dig Band, In addition to Ray, the band consists of Scott E. Mooreon vocals and acoustic guitar; Hank Skalka, a session player and hi-tech entrepreneur; and Rich Tozzoli, an award-winning/Grammy-nominated composer, producer and author.

“I second Ray’s sentiments,” Scott summed up. “The joy was contagious.”