A black man with glasses and goatee wearing a red shirt.Daric Anderson – I have been dancing with IAVDC for 4 years now. I am a good dancer. I like doing dance pieces and solos. I like spending weekends with my Grandmother. Dancing allows me to be independent, I bring my own ideas to the performance. I enjoy going for walks on different trails around the community.

Eleanor Bailey Headshot

Eleanor Bailey – I’m Eleanor. I volunteer at the Alberta Co-op and I helped organize the Kitchen Commons cooking group for adults with disabilities. I am an advocate for people with disabilities. I participate in the Safety Project. It’s a national group working on issues about abuse of people with disabilities. I like dance, yoga and water aerobics. I like to relax by drinking tea, coloring and hobnobbing.

A white woman with long hair and a sparkly, silver top.

Arrow Bless – Hey I’m arrow bless I’m 19 years old and I’ve been with this dance company for 3 years now. I’m a sophomore at clackamas community college. My favorite animal is a cow. They are my life. I also love to dance.

 

A white man with glasses and a yellow shirt.

Ryan Blumhardt – I am Dance King! I have been in IAVDC for three years now and I like all my friends at IAVDC. My mom and dad like seeing me perform, they’re very important to me. Aside from dancing I participate in Special Olympics doing Basket Ball, Softball and Bowling. I want to try golf and I am a great dancer.

A white woman with glasses and a black shirt, looking over her shoulder at the camera.

Rachel Esteve – I am a 24-year-old woman with Down syndrome. I have been dancing for 10 years because it is my favorite way of expressing my creativity. I dance modern, hip-hop, salsa and ballet. I also love to sing a lot, and go out with my friends and we do karaoke. I work at the Northwest Down Syndrome Association, and as a provider for a young girl who also has Down syndrome. I am active in the disability rights community. This year, I started classes at Portland State University as part of the Think College Inclusion Project. I am studying art.

Peter Heiken HeadshotPeter Heiken – My name is Peter. I am 29 yrs old. I love life with my family, especially my mom. I work at Safeway and Seaport Auto Wholesale and I volunteer at Holgate House. This is my first year with IVADC. I am loving dance. It allows me to express emotion. In my free time I watch TV, movies and musicals of all kinds (mostly Disney)!

Addie Nelson's headshot. White woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a light blue shirt.Addie Nelson – I’m 19 and I have been dancing with IAVDC for 5 years now. Dance for me is a great way to express emotions. I love this company because I have had so many amazing opportunities and made life long friends. Outside of dance I enjoy spending time with my family including my wonderful son Landon. I also love to binge watch TV shows on Netflix while cooking.

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Monique Peloquin –  I started dancing with Kathy in sixth grade.  I am at the Community Transition Program . I am learning to take Tri Met and Max . I love myself. I am in a Youth Social Justice Group. I love my family, I am 19 years old. I love my niece. She is four years old and she is fun to be with . We play bubbles!

Scott Selby Headshot

Scott Selby – My name is Scott Selby. I’m Deaf and I’ve been dancing for almost all of my life. This is my second year dancing with IVADC . I also founded a dance collective for the Deaf community called “2 Deaf Feet” here in Portland. I love to dance! My favorite dance icon is Bob Fosse.