SCI-Nurse
04-05-2002, 04:43 PM
From the April 2002 Paraplegia News:
Dancing has long been considered therapeutically valuable for helping people with some types of physical impairments redevelop an often-lost social interaction.
For wheelchair users, however, dancing may seem impossible. 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, instruct wheelchair users and their partners in the art of the waltz, two-step, cha-cha, and any other dance that progresses around a dance floor. The program is designed to teach wheelers and walkers to actually participate together in intricate turns and leading elaborate moves.
Adaptive Dancing's founders, Judy Kimmons and Dale Watts, have demonstrated their wheelchair-dance and teaching techniques around the country. Kimmons, who is ambulatory, is accomplished in numerous styles of country and swing dancing. Watts, who has spent the last 17 years in a wheelchair, is skilled at leading complex dance moves.
The idea for such an instruction program began with a challenge from Watts. After Kimmons remarked that anyone who can walk can dance, Watts asked, "What's walking have to do with it?" And Adaptive Dancing was born.
Kimmons and Watts teach their choreography to wheelers who have some use of their upper torsos and arms. The resulting activity reportedly produces good physical therapy for the wheelers, enjoyment for the participants, and dance moves that are graceful, artful, and usually inspiring to onlookers.
"When you're in a wheelchair, you hear about a lot of things you can't do anymore," Watts says. "Dancing used to be one of those things, but not anymore!"
When on the dance floor, Watts leads moves just as any other traditional male partner would.
The two are accepted dancers at country dance halls in the Denver area and also have demonstrated their program at various hospitals and charity exhibitions.
"Wheelchair users can participate in every aspect of weddings, special events, and parties," Kimmons says. "There's no longer an excuse to not dance. We can show you how."
The Adaptive Dancing team is available for classes, instruction, seminars, and demonstrations throughout the United States. Instructional tapes also are available.
Contact: Adaptive Dancing, P.O. Box 3002, Parker, CO 80134. (720) 870-3432
www.adaptivedancing.com (http://www.adaptivedancing.com)
dale@adaptivedancing.com
judy@adaptivedancing.com.
Dancing has long been considered therapeutically valuable for helping people with some types of physical impairments redevelop an often-lost social interaction.
For wheelchair users, however, dancing may seem impossible. 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, instruct wheelchair users and their partners in the art of the waltz, two-step, cha-cha, and any other dance that progresses around a dance floor. The program is designed to teach wheelers and walkers to actually participate together in intricate turns and leading elaborate moves.
Adaptive Dancing's founders, Judy Kimmons and Dale Watts, have demonstrated their wheelchair-dance and teaching techniques around the country. Kimmons, who is ambulatory, is accomplished in numerous styles of country and swing dancing. Watts, who has spent the last 17 years in a wheelchair, is skilled at leading complex dance moves.
The idea for such an instruction program began with a challenge from Watts. After Kimmons remarked that anyone who can walk can dance, Watts asked, "What's walking have to do with it?" And Adaptive Dancing was born.
Kimmons and Watts teach their choreography to wheelers who have some use of their upper torsos and arms. The resulting activity reportedly produces good physical therapy for the wheelers, enjoyment for the participants, and dance moves that are graceful, artful, and usually inspiring to onlookers.
"When you're in a wheelchair, you hear about a lot of things you can't do anymore," Watts says. "Dancing used to be one of those things, but not anymore!"
When on the dance floor, Watts leads moves just as any other traditional male partner would.
The two are accepted dancers at country dance halls in the Denver area and also have demonstrated their program at various hospitals and charity exhibitions.
"Wheelchair users can participate in every aspect of weddings, special events, and parties," Kimmons says. "There's no longer an excuse to not dance. We can show you how."
The Adaptive Dancing team is available for classes, instruction, seminars, and demonstrations throughout the United States. Instructional tapes also are available.
Contact: Adaptive Dancing, P.O. Box 3002, Parker, CO 80134. (720) 870-3432
www.adaptivedancing.com (http://www.adaptivedancing.com)
dale@adaptivedancing.com
judy@adaptivedancing.com.