A team of Armenian alumni organized a flash mob in order to show support for youth with disabilities by showcasing their participation with professional dancers in a public performance. To the tune of “Waltz of the Flowers” by Peter Tchaikovsky, 80 dancers of all abilities waltzed on the steps of Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan on October 15, 2016.
The flash mob is part of a winning Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) project titled “Unlimited Movement” led by a team of five Armenian exchange alumni. The project aims to address the challenges that children and youth with physical and mental disabilities face in today’s society in Armenia.
In addition to the flash mob, the team also created a film about animal therapy in healing and helping people with disabilities. The film tells the story of the Centaur Association of Animal Therapy and Equstrian Sports, a facility unique in the region which specializes in therapy for people living with disabilities. The film is directed by Aleksandr Baghdasaryan and is in Armenian with English subtitles. The film premiered on December 22, 2016 at the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Yerevan building.
Ultimately, the alumni team’s Unlimited Movement project aims to promote physical and artistic freedom among people living with disabilities and encourage their integration into society. It aims to demonstrate ways in which they can overcome their disabilities.