Wheelchair Dance Sport Association celebrating 10 years
The Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (WDSA UK) is celebrating 10 years of wheelchair and inclusive dance. To mark the occasion, they are calling for local dance groups to get more involved with disabled people in the community. It follows their national gala held on the 25th June at Stratford Circus Art Centre.
Over 80 people attended the black tie event- an opportunity to show what the charity has achieved over the last 10 years. It was also a chance to show supporters, partners and key stakeholders how you can include everyone into dance and dancesport.
The event was supported by the WDSA (UK) patrons, with performances from Kavman. He showed that age does not matter- everyone can still be involved in Hip-Hop and Street Dance. There was also a stunning performance from new Patron Rashmi Becker and her partner Nuno Sabroso. Other amazing performances came from former wheelchair dance world champions Nuno Sabroso and Daniele Oliveira, from Portugal. Wheelchair Dancesport team GB athletes Paula Moulton and Gary Lyness delighted the dinner guests too.
The event was supported by Karen and Kevin Clifton, who as patrons, wished everyone good luck and donated items to be auction on the night.
Ruth Boyne, the original founder, said:
“This evening has been an opportunity to show people what can be achieved through dance and that no matter how old or what your ability is that the WDSA (UK) aim of giving opportunity to everyone to be active through Dance and Dancesport is as strong now as it was when the charity was set up in June 2006."
Wheelchair dance sport can involve a wheelchair user and a non-disabled partner or two wheelchair users performing together. It has been opened up to mixed ability groups and individual performances. Dance is successful as a competitive sport around the world, through international organisations like the International Paralympic Committee and World Dance Council.
Although the WDSA (UK) is recognised as the National body for the sport in the UK and has raised its profile, the awareness across Britain still falls behind other sports in the UK. WDSA (UK) team, with support from Patrons like Rashmi Becker, Karen and Kevin Clifton, Philip Wylie, Gary Edwards and many others, are aiming to change this and increase the understanding.
Rashmi Becker, Patron, said:
“The standard of international competition is just astounding; as someone that dances myself I am blown away by the level of skill, but there is so much more we need to do in the UK. I think the work the WDSA (UK) has done in the last 10 years is fantastic and while celebrating this anniversary this year we will be looking to get the support from the sport, dance and disability sectors to work together with the WDSA (UK), to build the next chapter in giving opportunities for even more people to take part and help support their potential.”
The celebration event on 25 June was just the beginning of showcasing the sport and engaging more people. In this celebratory year, WDSA (UK) will spearhead a national competition and festival which will run on 22 October in Ware, Hertfordshire. Then, a National Symposium on Disability Dance and Dancesport in November at a venue in London to be confirmed.
