"I believe people with almost any kind of physique can do contemporary dance. Yet though there are many courses for able-bodied people, there is almost nothing for people with disabilities," says Sho Shibata, executive producer of U.K.-based Stopgap Dance Company.
Stopgap's debut Japan tour with its international hit, "The Enormous Room," illustrates how dance can be open to all. Dave Toole, its male lead, has no legs, and Hannah Sampson, the female lead, has Down syndrome.
The company's acclaimed productions, such as this — which drew rapturous applause in Yokohama ahead of upcoming shows in Tokyo and Kitakyushu — are made possible because of their innovative concept of "inclusive dance."