Rashid Stars: break down stereotypes one dance at a time

Dubai: A group of Dubai dancers with disabilities are showing the world what they are capable off — breaking down stereotypes, one dance step at a time.

The Rashid Stars dance troupe, which is part of the Rashid Centre for the Disabled in Dubai, is an eight-member dance troupe, comprising six hearing impaired and two mentally disabled dancers.

“The Rashid Stars are a professional dance troupe . Its members are students who we discovered had a talent for dancing, singing or acting. They come to the centre and practice three times a week and they get a monthly salary for it,” said Mohammad Younus, the founder and director of the troupe who works as the head of the art department.

The Rashid Stars — whose ages range from 16 to 24 — performed with some of Bollywood, Hollywood and the Arab world’s biggest stars such as Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan, American actress and singer Zendaya, Indian actress Kareena Kapoor and Egyptian singer Tamer Hosni.

Younus hopes that by having the Rashid Stars perform on stages around the world with celebrities, people will change their perception.

“People have to believe in them. They can do a lot but people need to give them a chance. Let them show us what they can do.”

Younus recalled a time when the dance troupe were supposed to perform ahead of a famous Egyptian singer’s concert and the crowd started booing when the troupe was announced.

“I went on stage and asked the audience to give them a chance, let them perform first and if you don’t like what you see I will ask them to leave the stage. Dubai has a lot of facilities for people with disabilities, but what needs to change is people’s perception. We need to teach our children that people with disabilities are living with us and we need to help them. Not just by donating money, we need to believe in them and give them a chance,” he said.

Despite the fact that the majority of the dance troupe are deaf, they enjoy dancing by feeling the music’s rhythm through the sound vibration of the music.

“My favourite dance is Bollywood and hip hop. I was very happy when I met Shah Rukh Khan. My least favourite dance is Arabic dancing,” said the hearing impaired dance troupe member Zia Mirza from Pakistan through a sign language translator.

“I memorise most of the dance moves and look at my instructor for help while performing,” said Mirza who dreams of becoming an actor one day.

Yemeni Ayma Fikree, 19, who has delayed brain development said she loves singing and dancing and enjoys being part of the troupe because she gets to meet with her friends.

“I want to be a singer and a dancer. I also want to be a nail artist because I am an expert and everyone loves nails,” she said.

Other dancers in the troupe include Kynath Akther, Sahad Shaikh, Alia Fikhree, Ashar Hussain, Mahek Anaddkat and Omar Khatab.