Jan 2002
Dancing has long been thought to
be therapeutically valuable for helping patients with some physical impairments
restore a sense of normalcy in their lives.
For people who use wheelchairs, however,
the act of dancing may seem an utter impossibility. Until recently, attempts
at couples social dancing were usually limited to the person in the wheelchair
holding someone on his or her lap and wheeling around the dance floor.
The process was generally little more than a wheelchair ride in a somewhat
unusual setting.
Today, however, the creators of Adaptive
Dancing of Denver, Colo. provide a course that instructs both wheelchair
users (wheelers) and their partners (walkers) in the art of dancing the
Waltz, Two-Step and Cha-Cha and any dance that progresses around a dance
floor.
The course is specifically designed
to teach both wheelers and walkers to actually participate together in
the execution of intricate dance turns and leading elaborate moves on the
dance floor.
The dance program helps build confidence
and reduces the sense of social isolation that sometimes impacts wheelchair
users, say Adaptive Dancing founders, Judy Kimmons and Dale Watts, who
have demonstrated their wheelchair dance and teaching techniques around
the country.
Kimmons, the Adaptive Dancing walker,
is an accomplished dancer in numerous styles of country and swing dancing.
Watts, her wheeler dance partner who has spent the last 17 years in a wheelchair,
has become skilled at dancing and leading complex dance moves.
The idea for such an instruction
program began with a challenge from Watts. After Kimmons remarked to him
that, "Anyone who can walk can dance." Watts replied, "What's walking have
to do with it?" With those few words, Adaptive Dancing was born as was
their slogan: "Can't walk? So go dancing!"
Kimmons and Watts teach their dance
choreography to wheelers who have some use of their upper torso and arms.
The resulting activity produces good physical therapy for the wheeler,
enjoyment for the couple and culminates in dance moves that are both graceful
and artful, and usually inspiring to onlookers.
"Our instruction focuses on the Two-Step
and Waltz. They are progressive dances that move around the floor, and
they are easier to accomplish than some of the basically stationary dances
such as the Cha-Cha and Swing, which can be challenging but still can be
mastered," Kimmons explains.
"I felt some trepidation when we
first started," Watts said. "When you're in a wheelchair, you hear about
a lot of things you can't do anymore. Dancing used to be one of those things,
but not anymore." He lost use of his legs because of spinal cord tumors.
Watts, 43, is a great fan of dancing and a proponent of its benefits for
a large segment of the wheelchair population.
Watts is an enthusiastic partner,
despite being overturned in his wheelchair on two occasions while attempting
Swing dancing. When on the floor Watts leads dance moves just as any other
traditional male dance partner would lead.
"I propel the wheelchair, but he
leads," said Kimmons. "Like any other dancers, we concentrate on keeping
time to the music. I prevent the wheelchair from running into anything
and keeping out of the way of other dancers. This is real dancing. Dale
does not just sit in his wheelchair and be pushed. He takes an active role
in what happens on the floor. This is an activity that many people in wheelchairs
can do," she said.
The two are accepted dancers at such
legendary country dance halls as The Stampede in Aurora, Colo., and Denver's
Grizzly Rose. They also have demonstrated their dance program at various
hospitals and charity exhibitions.
"This is an excellent way to make
sure that a friend, parent or grandparent who uses a wheelchair still has
the opportunity to enjoy one of the great social functions," Kimmons said.
"Now wheelchair users can participate
in every aspect of weddings, special events and parties. There's no longer
an excuse to not dance. If you have the desire to dance, we can show you
how," she added.
The Adaptive Dancing team is available
for dance classes, instruction, seminars, and demonstrations throughout
the U.S., and instructional videotapes are available.
Contact:
Copyright © 2001 We Media Inc
Edited by Caryn S. Kaufman
Adaptive Dancing
(720) 870-3432
http://www.adaptivedancing.com