If the Paralympic Games are about overcoming challenges and top-quality performances, then the celebration of 500 days until the Rio 2016 Games were perfect. Undeterred by a short but heavy downpour moments before, about 200 dancers performed an energetic flash mob alongside Copcabana beach on Sunday (26 April). As the Games themselves will be, it was quite some party.

“It was really cool,” said Felipe Berty, a 21-year-old  from Niteroi who was one of the wheelchair users who took part. “This shows the capacity of people with a disability to join in with these kind of things with people who don’t have a disability. I’m very proud to be part of this celebration.”

Dancers in wheelchairs showed their moves can be as awesome as anyone else's (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)

The performancae started with a series of recorded voices announcing “500 days to the Paralympic Games” in a variety of languages, including French, Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish and Russian. Then the assembled group exploded into life to the strains of Rio de Janeiro by American soul singer Barry White, followed Xote de Copacabana by Brazilian artist Jackson do Pandeiro.

The dancers blended a variety of styles, from tradition Brazilian forms like samba and forró, to contemporary dance and hip-hop and Brazilian funk. Even Tom, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games mascot, joined in.

“Each person came with their own style, and each of these added something special to the performance, “ said Robson Junior, a 20-year-old dancer from Rio, who said they had practised the routine for two days.

The routine featured one of the Games most-loved characters (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

It included some spectacular acrobatic moves and the hoisting of a giant flag featuring Tom, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games mascot. The performance was choreographed by celebrated theatre director and dancer Deborah Colker, the first Brazilian artist to receive a Laurence Olivier Award.

“The idea was to bring together different kinds of people and celebrate as one, joining people with different body conditions together in joy,” she said. “The aim was to celebrate through dance, on the street, different kinds of movement. The Paralympic Games are a gift for Rio. Overcoming challenges are part of life for everyone and when we see people who overcome their problems, this is a real inspiration, more than any class or book.”

Dancers from a variety of different musical backgrounds took part (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)

This was a theme choed by Mariana Mello, Rio 2016’s head of Paralympic integration, who said: “When Brazilians see up close the Paralympic athletes in action, and understand that their abilities are far great than their impairments, this will leave an immeasurable legacy for millions of people with a disability.”

Mello added that with 500 days to go, preparations for the Games were in the final straight. “The athletes are already competing in qualification events and the Games organisers are finalising their plans and entering operational mode,” she said. “Tickets will go on sale soon and fans will also be able to start preparing.”

Colker and Tom celebrate the milestone together with friends (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)

The flash mob was also a ‘test event’ for the Rio 2016 Culture Programme. “We want to take Brazilian culture to the streets during the Games, to surprise people and make them happy,” said Carla Camurati, Rio 2016’s head of culture. “Sport, education and art are crucial parts in creating good human beings.”

Some of the performers were trained dancers, while others were members of the public (Photo: Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)

The celebrations continued later in the afternoon, at the Maracanã, where the Rio state football championship final was being played by Botafogo and Vasco da Gama. Mascot Tom was at the stadium, which will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, and a ‘500 days to go’ video featuring Brazilian tennis legend Gustavo Kuerten was broadcast on the big screens. 

Check out this special video celebrating 500 days until the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games: