First Dancer with Autism Preforming in the Superbowl Half-time Show

Spectrum News captures Tampa Dancer Makes as he makes history as Super Bowl Halftime’s first autistic performer

History was made this month February 2021 by Joshua Felder when we saw the first autistic person performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Felder, a self-taught dancer, is the first performer with autism to dance in this prestigious evevent and has inspired so many.

Felder is a 23 year old on the autism spectrum from Tampa Bay, Florida. He has a photographic memory according to the Tampa Bay Times, and this makes it easy for him to pick up dance routines just by watching. His Tik Tok @swagmanfelder, dance routines got him noticed by the halftime show coordinators which secured him an audition. Felder says, "I use my autism and my photographic memory to help me stay focused," Felder explained to CBS, "Pretty much, it's a superpower. It's like a gift that I was given from birth."

Felder sent in a video of himself freestyle dancing. Within a few weeks, he heard back. He was going to the Super Bowl. According to Spectrum News, he said, “I was asked to audition, and I got in,” Felder aid. “I never thought in a million years I’d be at the Super Bowl … and dance with The Weeknd.”

Although Felder was incredibly nerous, once he started to prevorm his anxiety began to disappate and his dancing skills soothed him and he was able to give an amazing preformance. Joshua said, “The moves took over. I felt I was in the movie Step Up,” he said. “In my head, I was saying ‘let’s make history tonight.’” he said to the Tampa Bay Times

Felder loves to dance in the spotlight but admitted that he’d love to work for Best Buddies in Tampa Bay one day.

This illustrates why inclusion is so important. Representation matters, and you cannot be what you cannot see in the world. Including people with disabilities fosters accpetance and tolerence in our society. Felder inspired everyone to dream passionatly and that anything is possible.