Director's Note: This PSA short film is inspired by a real life story by a wheelchair dancer in our community who shared with us a heart-warming memory from his own prom where his friends made him feel welcomed as the only student using a wheelchair. After his story, I immediately saw a short film, but I let the idea marinate for a while. In the meantime, as a long-time disabled creator and disability advocate, keeping tabs on the disability related content, I realized that the disability narrative was always in one direction: the nondisabled person, including the disabled person. Why not the disabled person welcoming the nondisabled person? There are many great disabled leaders whose impact has extended beyond the disability community. This PSA is a call to all that we can each be welcoming and inclusive.
Synopsis: "The Prom" is about Michael, a high school student born with cerebral palsy who uses a powerchair, navigating prom. Michael goes to prom without a date. He sits alone while his peers dance. He looks towards a girl who sits close to him, but another boy asks her to dance and he is ignored. He feels left out. Jessica is dancing with a guy, having a good time. As she gets twirled, she notices Michael, sitting alone and lonely. As she continues to dance, she glances over at him again. As the song ends, Jessica, though a little hesitant, approaches Michael and dances with him. Michael and Jessica have a good time dancing together. As Michael twirls, he notices a girl (named Monica) sitting alone, looking lonely. As the song ends, Michael rolls to Monica, and asks her to dance. Monica gladly accepts with a big smile. Michael, Jessica, and Monica now dance together, and then everyone joins.
About Infinite Flow Dance: Infinite Flow Dance is an award-winning Los Angeles-based professional dance company and nonprofit that employs disabled and nondisabled dancers with diverse identities, with a mission to advance disability inclusion, one dance at a time. Since 2015, Infinite Flow has performed at over 350 events, from school assemblies to events at Apple, Microsoft, adidas, and Red Bull, and other brands. Infinite Flow’s dance videos have been viewed over 100 million times across social media, and we’ve been featured on NBC Today, Good Morning America, PBS, and other national and international media outlets. Infinite Flow Dance was founded by Marisa Hamamoto, a spinal stroke survivor and late-diagnosed Autistic. Marisa recently became the first professional dancer named People Magazine's “Women Changing the World.” Infinite Flow Dance is a robust social impact entity committed to radical inclusion, systems change, and producing transformational experiences. Infinite Flow Dance is available for performances, keynotes, panels, school assemblies, and accessibility & inclusion workshops, virtually and in person.
This project was ideated before the pandemic and was shot 2025. The story arc evolved over the years. Finding the right actor to play Michael took time.
Christopher, who plays "Michael," was a senior high school student at Claremont High School when we shot this PSA (graduated May 2025). Christopher was born with cerebral palsy, which affected his mobility and speech. Christopher had no acting experience, but embodied the leadership qualities of the film's character Michael in so many ways: Chris was the manager of his high school football team and was a spokesperson for special education. Initially, Chris was hesitant on playing the lead of a short film, but once I explained to him the potential impact of the film, he was all in. As a director, one of my superpowers is to get non-dancers to dance and non-actors to act. These skills played a critical role in the film's production.
36k+ views, 1.1k likes, 274 shares on Instagram
