What is UpDown Funk?
The UpDown Funk Dance Troupe is a group of dancers with special needs and unique abilities including Down syndrome and other related intellectual disabilities. UpDown Funk Dance Troupe (UDF) includes families, friends, those who uplift people with disabilities.
UpDown Funk has entertained audiences since its inception. The dancers are a highly dedicated bunch and have found a new sense of purpose in their lives, belonging to this compelling group. UpDown Funk Dance Troupe won first place at the Washington County Fair, competed at the MN State Fair, flash mobbed at National Night Out, entertained at Special Olympics Dance-a-thon, along with other community performances in the Stillwater community. They impressed the crowds, but more importantly, made an emotional connection to the audience that sends a message of inclusion.
UpDown Funk is supported in part by the generosity of individuals, organizations, and the public. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
The History of UpDown Funk
Four years ago, Dario began to hold monthly Friday Night Dance Parties for adults with unique abilities. He has over 30 years of experience with special needs, both as a family member (his brother has Down syndrome) and personal care attendant. Some of the participants of his dance parties demonstrated exceptional talent and he realized there were no opportunities to share these talents with an audience. It was then that he created UpDown Funk Dance Troupe to offer the community a different view of the potential of these dedicated individuals and to share the joy of performance.
The troupe now consisting of UpDown Funk and UpDown Funk Jr. has trained at our facility and during the summer months, in outdoor spaces with social distancing. UDF is currently working on a project to transfer the excitement of live performance to virtual video performance. The UDF dancers have a voice through movement that needs to be respectfully captured and communicated.