The Tribune

A BREAKDANCE group made up of young men of different backgrounds and disabilities is visiting The Bahamas to help motivate young people.

The ILL-Abilities breakdance crew will be holding a series of youth engagement events, starting today, during their visit.

The group aims to demonstrate the message “No Limits, No Excuses”. These five young men aim to inspire young people around the world to strive to achieve their goals and realise their full potential through motivational words of encouragement and dance.

The group says: “In the context of hip-hop culture, it’s usual to take something negative and make it positive. For example; bad, nasty, mean, ill, sick, all are commonly considered compliments when used to describe a person, group, and/or a situation.

“That being said, when the word ‘ill’ is used as an adjective, instead of meaning ‘sick’ or ‘not well’, it actually describes something that is either incredible, amazing, intricate, or super talented. Hence, the word ‘Disability’ can often be used to describe one’s (negative) limitations, so we created the term ‘ILL-Ability’ (ILL-Abilities) to describe our (positive) capabilities.”

Today, the group will be the featured act at a performance titled “Testing Your Limits, Beyond the Box” at Bahamas Harvest Church on Prince Charles Drive, beginning at 7pm.

Other guest performers will include the Junior Achievement Company RETRO, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Youth Development through the Arts program, and Beyond Measure ensemble. US and Bahamian government officials are expected to attend.

On Wednesday, the group will perform in Pompey Square, downtown, Bay Street from noon–1pm.

More than 200 students from local primary schools including St Thomas Moore, Albury Sayle, Centreville Primary, Temple Christian and Woodcock Primary will be in attendance.

On Thursday, the dancers will perform for the entire student body at Government High School from 11:30am– noon.

For more information about ILL-Abilities, visit http://illabilities.com.