Video - Fadi Al Halabi Dances for Justice and Human Dignity at the WCC 11th General Assembly
Photo: Albin Hillert/ World Council of Churches
In hopeful artistic movements, he threw his hands in the air and spun around his wheelchair. Fadi El Halabi danced with his partner Karen Abi Nader, symbolizing the joy that can only be felt when fighting against limiting the freedom of persons with disabilities. Through the performance, he denounced all forms of racism and discrimination, towards the inclusion of everyone in the society and the Church.
The dance, which you can enjoy and watch it in the following video, was part of a fourth thematic plenary entitled “Affirming justice and human dignity”, on Tuesday 6 September 2022. It was convened during the World Council of Churches 11th General Assembly, taking place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August to 8 September 2022, under the theme "Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity."
In fact, El Halabi had a dream of creating a dance group which promotes inclusion of all people. Thus, that dream came true when together with his dance partner at that time, performed the first wheelchair dance in 2009 during the first international salsa festival that took place in Lebanon. In 2010, they performed in Cyprus a dance entitled “wheels on fire”. Therefore, they were awarded the title “ambassadors of joy and hope: from Lebanon to the world”. In 2015, they represented Lebanon at the world Latin dance cup held in Miami.
Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Fadi El Halabi on the MECC website about empowering people with disabilities in society and the Church.
Photos: Albin Hillert/ World Council of Churches