Check out DFA in the News:
- New Zealand
- Australia
FASHION CAN BE AND SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE
August 13 2019
New Zealand Fashion Week is strutting a new look—diversity and inclusion. In addition to announcing plans to recruit 100 disabled volunteers, New Zealand Fashion Week has also unveiled a commitment to diverse modelling, culminating in their first diversity seminar. Furthermore, the world’s first intellectually disabled fashion show at a Fashion Week will take place. “Living Colour” will feature garments from New Zealand’s top designers, and will be worn by models with intellectual disabilities.
'Thank you, Elle': Macpherson inspires fashion-loving Aucklander
September 28 2019
Sarah Jones dreams of one day owning her own fashion and beauty magazine.The 30-year-old Aucklander is off to a good start, rubbing shoulders with fashion's movers and shakers at the inaugural NZ Fashion Week Gala, which veteran model Elle MacPherson hosted this year.
Jones won the tickets after being named "Best Female on the Catwalk" in the Dance for Abilities event at NZFW. She was one of 15 models with learning disabilities who participated in the special fashion show.
Models with intellectual disabilities light up catwalk at NZ Fashion Week
September 01 2019
Fifteen models with intellectual disabilities walked the catwalk at New Zealand Fashion Week yesterday as part of The Living Colour show, celebrating diversity.
Dance for Abilities Fashion Show
August 20 2019
The Living Colour show at New Zealand Fashion Week will see 15 models with intellectual disabilities strut on the catwalk representing some of New Zealand’s top designers.
Dance For Abilities to host special NZ Fashion Week event
August 13 2019
New Zealand Fashion Week 2019 is not far away now and in amongst all the designer fashion shows will be a special fashion show and dance party for people with disabilities by an organisation called Dance for Abilities.
Dance For Abilities will present New Zealand’s first intellectually disabled fashion show at NZFW
August 01 2019
DFA is looking beyond its typical format to host a fashion show at the upcoming New Zealand Fashion Week. Living Colour will be the first fashion show in New Zealand, in fact, to be entirely comprised of models with intellectual disabilities. “We are really excited to get the opportunity to open another door for people with intellectual disabilities,” Daniel Hopkirk says. “Our teams’ goal is to continually evolve [Dance For Abilities] and create equal opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to have a night out in these fantastic locations and events around Auckland.”
Living Colour show to give feel-good finish to New Zealand Fashion Week
July 28 2019
New Zealand Fashion Week has a focus on diversity and the event next month will conclude with a catwalk show featuring garments from various top designers worn by 15 models with intellectual disabilities.Founder Dame Pieter Stewart has partnered NZFW with Dance for Abilities, offering the space for a closing-party show on August 31.
Everyday Heroes: Jonathan and Daniel Hopkirk, Dance For Abilities
June 09 2019
We’re of the firm opinion that everyone deserves the right to let loose and party every once in a while and so, apparently, is Jonathan Hopkirk.A medical doctor and part-time DJ, Hopkirk is also the founder of heart-warming initiative Dance For Abilities (DFA), a charity that hosts social events specifically for those with intellectual disabilities.
Dance for Abilities to host Fashion on the Field for intellectually disabled
November 14 2018
It's the festive season and that means it's party time!Dance for Abilities is a Kiwi owned organisation which runs social events for the intellectually disabled community in Auckland and Sydney's best hot-spots.
Dancing is for everyone: Inclusive dance parties arrive in NZ
July 06 2018
Everybody deserves a great night out.When you're a differently-abled person, however, you might feel left out of a traditional partying scene. DJ gigs, bars and clubs don't feel welcome and inviting for anybody that doesn't fit the usual mould of "partygoer"; much less those with intellectual disabilities.
After a successful debut, Dance for Abilities is back and needs your help
June 25 2018
We first caught wind of Dance for Abilities earlier this year when the organisation, which originally launched in Sydney, brought its one-night-only party — designed for people with intellectual disabilities — to Auckland.
Dance for Abilities - The AM Show
May 01 2018
Rosa and Dan make an appearance on the TV3 AM show.
Events aim to make arts accessible to disabled
April 12 2018
Growing up in a close-knit family of six, Rosa Hopkirk loved parties and socialising.So, it saddened her three brothers, Callum, Daniel and Jonathan, when, as Rosa got older, she was sometimes left out of birthday parties, private functions and nights dancing because she has Down syndrome.
The NZ Herald Live Interview
April 11 2018
Dance for Abilities social night gives people with an intellectual disability 'a safe house' to party
Dancing for Abilities is hosting a night out in Auckland and they need your help
April 10 2018
If you only do one thing for charity this month, we suggest you make it this: Dancing for Abilities is an organisation that launched in Sydney last year and is making its way to Auckland for a bona fide party tomorrow night.
The Project AU: Good News
October 05 2017
Carrie brings you all the good news from around the world this week!
Dance For Abilities social night gives people with an intellectual disability 'a safe house' to party
September 29 2017
There's nothing Rosanna Hopkirk loves more than dancing, except perhaps her brothers.According to her younger sibling Jonathan, the 32-year-old regularly "steals the show" even when he's the one at the DJ turntables.
