Meg Ohsada

“I want to dance. My local dance studio permanently closed due to COVID-19, and my training opportunities have become very limited because of the health restrictions.”

For Meg, dance is a vital line for self expression. Spoken words are not her strength, and she does not allow Down syndrome to define her.

Because of the shutdown of available spaces to train, Meg’s mother Noriko had moved the furniture in the living room just so that Meg could continue her practice. The Creative Incubator was an opportunity to train in an inclusive environment and deliver a message to a diverse community through dance. As an award winning dancer and figure skater, Meg used her time in the Incubator to develop a new dance routine. She used this new routine to represent Canada in the Special Olympics DanceSport event in August 2021 in Austria. During her time in the Studio Theatre, Meg worked with world renowned choreographer Yukichi Hattori. The results will move you.

“I am a visible minority with developmental disabilities. My presence in public is very meaningful for a diverse, inclusive community. I hope to advocate that people with different challenges have potential when given the right tools and opportunities.”

For more on Meg’s artistic journey in the Incubator, please watch her artist documentary (listed below) and read our interview with her (link below).