A moving video about dancing against all odds, how inspiring…

The below is from the description of David Toole’s youtube page:

David Toole of CandoCo Dance Company compels attention. Propped on his hands, head lowered between his powerful shoulders, his gaze has a burning intensity. He disappears below the waist, unburdened by legs: his arms are his means of locomotion and of dancing, with or without a wheelchair.

Physically, David Toole is half a person, yet he mesmerized me with his strength, skill and musicality. His dance has come on in leaps and bounds – except that he does not leap conventionally but on long, muscular arms.

No one watching would describe Toole as physically challenged. David succeeds in shattering our preconceptions about the handicapped and is truly an inspiration.

Inspiring isn’t it?

We have lost another great Dance and Aesthetic Icon – Merce Cunningham. Because people come into Dance in so many different ways, for a moment I want to pay homage to someone who imparted upon me a sense of longing and mystery for the art of Dance; it’s important.

I wasn’t born a natural dancer (and I’m still learning), so I will always revere and admire people who Dance because they have to. To me Merce Cunningham was one of those souls.

Merce was first a hoofer (tap dancer) then a Ballroom dancer, then a Modern Dancer and America’s greatest Choreographer.

Rest In Peace