Own Kind of Beautiful

OWN KIND OF BEAUTIFUL is a documentary film that centres the artistry and point of view of Frank Hull, a dance artist who proudly lives with cerebral palsy and madness, embraces his Mi'kmaq heritage, and celebrates his gay identity.

The film documents the creative and emotional process of remounting a dance piece that Frank and his best friend Marcie Ryan choreographed together 10 years ago.

At that time Marcie was using a manual wheelchair and now uses a powered wheelchair. Frank, who has been using and dancing in a powered wheelchair for over 25 years, promises to show Marcie how to imbue the dance spirit into her new mobility device. Together they create a piece that showcases their skills, deep connection to each other and their joy of dance.

The film presents two concepts that may be new to the audience. The disability aesthetic in dance and access intimacy. In the context of dance, "aesthetic" refers to the principles that guide the creation and appreciation of beauty, grace, and artistic expression in movement.

Frank presents that the disability aesthetic in dance holds more possibilities and not less which may surprise the audience. In a culture that either holds a viewpoint of pity or inspiration towards those who are disabled, the message is that disabilities are limiting and therefore have less possibilities. But Frank’s experience, as a choreographer who works with dancers who have severe disabilities, is the opposite.

Disabled artists working together on art projects like this film, experience what is referred to as access intimacy, which is ”a knowing without needing to ask what is needed in the moment.” This type of intimacy is unconditional, kind, and caring and the audience experiences it as moving and beautiful to behold.