challenge
Hip hop began as a powerful form of artistic expression and a peaceful alternative to violence in Black and Latino communities in the U.S. Over time, it became commercialized, and some parts of the genre — like rap music — started to reflect values that strayed from its original roots.
Kelly Riccardi, a hip hop dancer, artist-in-residence and staff member at posAbilities Association for Community Inclusion, saw a connection between hip hop’s original intention and posAbilities’ mission: building a more inclusive world. Together, we explored how hip hop could bring people together and help them express themselves freely.
But there was a challenge — how could we share this vision with the wider community in a way that would truly inspire them to get involved?
"We (the hip hop community) need to be more visible in a positive way, while giving everyone a voice."
—Kelly Riccardi, SoulAbilities Co-founder & Creative Director
project brief
Our first project was a series of hip hop dance instructional videos, designed with accessibility in mind. Each video included adaptations for people with disabilities or limited mobility, along with open and closed captions and ASL interpretation. The videos were used as a companion to online workshops and free to view on posAbilities’ YouTube channel.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Inspired by the feedback, Kelly and the posAbilities team hosted their first in-person SoulAbilities workshop. We were there to capture it—so others could see what’s possible when inclusion and creativity come together.
First lesson in the hip hop dance series
"The biggest thing that i was trying to build into this when i brought people on board is 'this is not about us'. it's about giving something, like a hub for a school of thought."
—Kelly Riccardi, SoulAbilities Co-founder & Creative Director
SoulAbilities' first in-person workshop
impact & results
The project quickly gained traction, earning national coverage from CBC and thousands of views across posAbilities’ YouTube channel. The strong response highlighted a real demand for accessible education rooted in hip hop culture.
The first SoulAbilities workshop drew a full house, bringing together people of all ages and abilities. Since then, Kelly has continued leading regular dance classes in the community — using the workshop video as a powerful tool to inspire new participants and demonstrate what inclusion in action looks like.
Building on this momentum, the team is now developing a SoulAbilities school for hip hop: a creative space where people with and without disabilities can come together to learn, perform, and grow. We continue to document this evolution to support their vision, engage potential funders, and lay the groundwork for a larger documentary project that could share their story with a wider audience.