Crip Ecstasy (2023)

  • NEVE and Saira, two Black non-binary Disabled queers dance in front of a DJ and DJ booth and a large projection of various colorful symbols. NEVE leans back in their wheelchair; Saira dances on the floor.

  • Sharmi Basu performs, behind them are green arched columns and the Crip Ecstasy trans/access/rave symbol, morphing into the pink globe projections.

  • Iman wears a sparkling silver catsuit and brings both hands out into a wave that follows the glittering circular pattern projected behind her.

  • A chinese-american transgender drag king sings into the mic. They are wearing a golden yellow marie-antoinette-style wig, gold coat, and red tassled gloves and earrings. Their makeup is a stunning combination of black facial hair with femme twists.

  • Rafi, a white Jewish person, stands while dancing on stage; they have two arms lifted outwards, with a passionate expression on their face. Their purple and black wheelchair sits in the background. They are wearing a black tank top and painted pants.

  • A black and white photo of Gina reading on stage; ze self-describe as a fat white disabled intersex genderqueer femme in her 40s.

Crip Ecstasy (Vol 1) is an immersive nightlife experience that centers accessibility from the ground up. Working with a cast of 13 disabled performance artists, visual designers, DJs, ASL Interpreters and Audio Describers, this installation brings together multiple forms of access intersect to conjure a new blueprint for what a club space can be.

Presented June 2023 in a co-production with Counterpulse, SF

Performers: Beast Nest, DJ Ladybug, DJ Fridge, Gina Stella Dell'Assunta, King Lotus Boy, Rafi Ruffino Darrow, Iman, Saira Barbaric, NEVE Mazique-Bianco

Creative Director, Producer & Host: Octavio Rose Hingle

Visual Designers: Jillian Crochet, Anum Awan, Miac Alexander, Octavia Rose Hingle

Video: Connor Roach with Cuentamé Zines

Photos: Robbie Sweeny

Graphic Design: Sarah McDonald

Accessibility Offerings: Audio Description // ASL Interpretation // Daybeds & Reclined Seating // Decompression Space // Wheelchair Accessible // Live Sound Descriptions // No Strobes / Flashing Lights // Access Doulas // Pre-Show Touch Tour with Gravity Access Services // KN-95 or similar masks required and offered on site

A dance floor full of disabled and non-disabled hotties vibing; projections are of luminescent purple waves with sound description reading "hard base dance vibes"

Crip Ecstasy Sensory Room

Our Sensory Room, designed by artist Jillian Crochet (pictured right), created a calming, and sensorily engaging environment for neurodivergent partygoers and everyone to unwind and regulate our nervous systems away from the loud music and activity of the club.

An installation that features a large crocheted tree sculpture, a mossy green bed, stim toys, dried flower arrangements, plants and sculptural objects.
Artist Jillian Crochet poses by the tree trunk installation. She smiles behind a mask and has curly black hair, a colorful outfit on and uses a power wheelchair.
  • Detail of the tree sculpture, composed of crocheted brown threads with plenty of holes to let light through, and a slit down the middle of the trunk so that folks can come in and sit on the mossy green rock at its base.

  • Detail of the mossy stool for folks to sit in inside the tree.

  • One corner of the room has a mossy chill pad, dried flowers lit by LED lights from behind and amorphous, grey velvet sculptures reminscent of river rocks.

  • Close up of various stim objects: fabrics, gloves, chains, and a wooden mallet.