We are all gifted, but we have to discover the gift, uncover it, nurture it, and develop it to make it work for us.

That’s what Husnain did for himself and for all the differently abled people. How? Let’s figure this out.

This is the story of many differently abled dancers who with their self-belief, hard work, commitment, conviction and hope have battled all the stereotypes for choosing dance as a profession and using a wheelchair.

Husnain, a trained Bharatnatyam differently abled dancer never knew that he would make history by establishing the ‘We Are One’ Dance Academy. Established in 2016, this academy today trains over 90 students with the sole objective of achieving dignity, feeling empowered & included and being treated equally to any other human being.

“Being a differently abled person, I understand what issues a differently abled person goes through. We Are One Dance Academy runs on the sole motive of promoting disability, not only in India but across the globe,” explains Husnain.

It is the only academy in India that professionally performs Indian classical dance on wheelchairs. This academy works on 4 motives – Dignity, Equality, Inclusive, and Empowerment.

THOUGHT BEHIND THE NAME

Why the Academy has been named ‘We Are One’?

“Whether it be a differently abled, visually impaired, or slow learner or any other person; everyone is equal and should be treated equally in all aspects of life. To promote the same, we came up with the name ‘We Are One’,” explains Husnain.

Some people here can’t walk, and some cannot hear or speak, but with a dancing heart, they are winning the heart of many people across the globe. What makes them ‘One’ is their consistent hard work, determination, commitment, and passion for dance.

THE CHALLENGES

A journey is always full of pain and failure. It is not only the steps forward that we must accept. It is the stumbles, the trials that we must overcome to move forward.

The journey of wheelchair dancers was no different. There were times when the thoughts of hopelessness, a sense of unfairness and bouts of anger enveloped them but the moment they cheered up and relooked at themselves, they discovered a better side of life.

Riding on the newly-discovered strengths, they were relishing the beauty of life. The crutches that they hated turned into magical wands. The wheelchair that they disliked was shaped into a roller-skating toy. The sign language that everyone cringed, morphed into lyrical notes as they all were overcoming all obstacles and creating new history not only for themselves but also for all the differently abled people who are looked down upon.

HUSNAIN: THE FOUNDER

Husnain | MEET THIS DIFFERENTLY ABLED GROUP WITH DANCING HEARTS — Husnain | Credit: www.weareone.org.in

The Founder, Husnain has been on a wheelchair since his childhood. He is performing on wheelchair for the past 15 years and this has made him understand that the view of the world is beautiful even from a wheelchair.

His love for dance grew when he joined the Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, an Anand Vihar-based voluntary organisation that rehabilitates persons with disability. After establishing We Are One, he got many back-to-back stage opportunities including a big opportunity of representing India in Singapore in 2018. Appreciation and recognition came in from different parts of India and the globe.

“We want to help everyone understand that disability is not a curse. Our destiny is in our hands. With passion, zeal and determination we can succeed in life,” mentions Husnain.

This is just the beginning. Many more stories need to be written, records to be broken, and history to be created.