Triumphs great and small

I was so certain that I was up on most new noteworthy disabilities trends. In fact, a popular phenomenon had totally slipped by my radar: wheelchair dancing.

I am pleased to report that even in this corner of the globe, there are groups, troupes and courses in both the dance and its instruction - of which I was unaware until this week.

YouTube is abuzz with videos of wheelchair-bound performers and competitors from all over the the United State, from the Philippines, from Holland, from Portugal and beyond. They have either wheelchair-bound or standing partners.

Here is a wheelchair-bound duo:

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And here is a proud, daring legless dancer who, at one point, leaves the wheelchair to dance on the floor. .

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This next video shows a standing husband and wheelchair-bound wife competing on "Holland's Got Talent"; they appear to win rave reviews from both judges and audience but my Dutch is nonexistent so I can't be sure:

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And here is a former dancer, Auti Angel, who resumed her career after becoming paralyzed in a car accident. The film quality leaves much to be desired but Angel's spunk and talent shine through nonetheless.

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Angel joins three other impressive young women in wheelchairs to form the Push Girls. The group have their own TV show on the Sundance Channel:

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I can't imagine a program of this sort being broadcast on any of our local channels, at least not for another few years. But nowadays acceptance and admiration for people with disabilities - wherever it occurs - has a ripple effect that benefits us all.

While C. will never dance, here she is (below) demonstrating her own fancy footwork:


Or view it on the Vimeo site.