By Ibrahim Arimurti Rashad, Editor and Translator, based on materials by Kitapoleng

29 July 2025 - 17:30

Share this
A shot of Arif “Onelegz” dancing.
Image description: A shot of Arif “Onelegz” dancing. 

The inclusive dance film project Convergence Of Grace: Uniting Worlds Through Dance features a collaboration between British dancer Kadafi Mulula and Indonesian dancer Arif “Onelegz.”

Inspiring and uniting two continents and cultures through the universal language of dance, Convergence Of Grace: Uniting Worlds Through Dance is an inclusive dance film project featuring a collaboration between British dancer Kadafi Mulula and Indonesian dancer Arif “Onelegz.”

This project was produced by Kitapoleng, a dance and film company based in Bali consisting of deaf dancers and filmmakers, and supported by We Are Epic, an inclusive arts organisation that supports international collaboration for underrepresented artists, of which Kadafi is one of its Associate Dance Artists. 

This project is supported by the British Council, which enabled Kadafi to travel to Bali for a 10-day residency. All parties stayed in Bali to design, rehearse and film the dance on location during the residency.

Inclusive Artistic Expression

The idea for this film arose from a desire to create inclusive and transformative art. As a platform, Kitapoleng consistently creates works or organises projects that involve artists with disabilities. Interestingly, this initiative came about even though Kitapoleng was originally formed solely to produce dance performances. Kitapoleng has also collaborated with Arif “Onelegz”, one of which was at the Festival Bebas Batas, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta, in 2018.

As a dancer, Arif “Onelegz” is known for his expressive movements and resilient spirit. His works transcend conventional performance forms and expectations, redefining what it means to be a dancer. Meanwhile, Kadafi, as a collaborator, is an experienced and versatile dancer who has been involved in cross-cultural projects. Thanks to their complementary skills, their collaboration feels natural, accompanied by mutual respect and a vision to create inclusive artworks. 

Residency to Learn Togetherness

After finding out that the British Council was funding this project through the Connections Through Culture programme, the creative process began through virtual meetings. Arif and Kadafi explored ideas, exchanged stories, and shared their love of dance, before deciding on the tone of the film. Throughout the process, this collaboration spanning two continents required patience, flexibility, and openness to each other’s backgrounds.

Kadafi arrived at the perfect time. When he heard that the British Council was funding the project, Kadafi had just completed a two-year internship at Company Chameleon and was about to transition into a new role as a Company Dancer. During the residency and involvement in the filmmaking process, Kadafi felt like part of a family and experienced a genuine sense of belonging, despite being the only British artist in the project.

Kadafi also had the opportunity to immerse himself in Balinese culture, as the island has a unique tradition of dance art. Kadafi noted, “It was amazing, I really went back to the rawness of how dance makes me feel. I really loved that scene, like the breathing, the nature, really feeling in my body and soul and being grounded to the soil.”

Deaf dancers from Kitapoleng posed in white costumes.
Image description: Deaf dancers from Kitapoleng posed in white costumes. 
A shot of Kadafi dancing.
Image description: A shot of Kadafi dancing. 

The Merging of Two Cultures

The dance in this film brings together two cultural identities. In the early stages of production, Arif had an Indonesian background with natural landscapes, while Kadafi came from England with an urban atmosphere. These two different backgrounds created contrasts, enriching the visual aspects of the film and showing the dialogue between the dances despite the distance between them. The project then sought to innovate how to combine two different scenes into a cohesive dance piece.  

The film also has documentary elements, where viewers can follow Arif and Kadafi's personal stories before entering the collaborative dance scene.

As a result, the film seamlessly blends dance, music, and visual narrative, with every movement and scene conveying the project’s central message, which is the power of art to transcend physical and cultural boundaries. 

The Role of Artists with Disabilities in Artistic Inclusion

The premiere of Convergence of Grace received an overwhelmingly positive response. The film touched audiences with its honest emotions and authentic portrayal of inclusion. It has been screened at various dance festivals and sparked deep conversations about the role of artists with disabilities in the global dance community. For Arif and Kadafi, this project marks the beginning of a deeper and longer-term partnership to continue exploring the unlimited potential in artistic activities. 

The success of the production and screening of Convergence of Grace has highlighted the important role of artistic collaboration in celebrating diversity and inclusivity. Dance has a universal language and appeal, not only bringing together artists across nations and cultures but also strengthening the personal stories of each artist involved, as seen in the collaboration between Arif and Kadafi.

There are still many opportunities to distribute this film. We Are Epic and Kitapoleng plan to hold film screenings and workshops in Indonesia and the United Kingdom, involving local participants and facilitating discussions on inclusivity in the arts. We Are Epic and Kitapoleng also plan to submit this film to international film and dance festivals in order to expand its reach and impact.

International Collaboration as Knowledge Exchange

The long-term vision of We Are Epic and Kitapoleng is to establish sustainable international collaboration, enabling artists such as Arif and Kadafi to continue their creative dialogue, inspire new talents, and explore innovative forms.

Sustainable international collaboration can serve as a catalyst for more inclusive art projects and create works that promote empathy and cross-cultural understanding, particularly through dance or performance art in general. 

Convergence of Grace is not merely a dance film, but also a celebration of the human spirit, a tribute to the beauty of diversity, and a reminder of the extraordinary things that can be created when artists collaborate openly with a shared purpose.
Read our latest stories