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Letter from Joseph Anderson

Although the concept of dancing and the use wheelchair may seem like a contradiction of terms, the beauty and stylistic passion of a well trained dance team can be presented even when one member is in a wheelchair. This can be accomplished when the participants are serious, determined and willing to work hard. I believe my girlfriend and I have this philosophy.

Ivette and I take pleasure in learning the different required dance steps together. We are motivated to practice and improve our movement in order to develop a successful routine together. We know, we have to continually support one another if we are going to have a successful team. We are both learning to recognize the general rhythms of the different music styles and how to apply them to dance. We are learning how to move in association with rhythm and timing of the music. These steps are different for the able-bodied as well as the wheelchair user. We are learning how to combine these steps in order to make a graceful dance presentation.

   We are both enjoining the physical benefit of the exercise we complete during the wheelchair dance classes. We are both receiving aerobic strengthening and overall endurance improvement  from each class session.

   Ivette and I are exited about joining this class. I use a wheelchair and Ivette is able bodied. We believe that this program along with Rubin’s guidance, will help us to achieve our goal to be a strong dance team.

Joseph Anderson

New York

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The Wheelchair Dancesport USA offers for me an opportunity

to dance and utilize abilities that I never thought I would be able to use again

My name is Julianna Farella. I am a graduate of East Stroudsburg High School in Pennsylvania in 1991 and also hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania in 1997 as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Kaplan University in 2005. While I was in High School I played percussion in the school band and performed my own piano recital at East Stroudsburg University. I held several office positions but more recently I was a music teacher for the Archdioceses of New York in 2002 where I taught music to autistic children up until 8th grade.

Now, I am 32 years old, a young lady who is battling Multiple Sclerosis which I was diagnosed with on September 11, 2003 and every since then I lost my independence. My music degree cannot be utilized and my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration also cannot be utilized because of my disability becoming a reality. I cannot work or live a life like I did before. I cannot walk because I have no strength in my legs and I also have very limited upper body strength. Ever since I became disabled, I lost all my friends because they thought I was too much trouble leaving me no choice but to stay home all the time. I can rely only on my Grandmother who is 72 years old push me in a huge, heavy, oversized manual wheelchair. I am on Social Security Disability which gives me a very limited income therefore I am unable to afford anything. I can barely pay for my medication and daily expenses. I hope someone can help me. I can be come independent. If I do not get a power chair I may have to be permanently homebound.

On May 22, 2006 the United Spinal Association held a Disability Awareness Event in Grand Central Terminal where I met Rubin Zakiryanov from Wheelchair DanceSport USA Association where he was teaching wheelchair users to Ballroom and Latin Dance and presenting Wheelchair Dance Classes in New York City.  I began attending classes right away where I met wheelchair users who have the same drive while learning adaptive Ballroom Dance. While in class, I feel like I have new friends, am welcome by others giving me a sense of purpose to travel from my home in Staten Island, New York to New York City so I could not feel isolate and permanently homebound. The Wheelchair DanceSport USA Association offers for me an opportunity to dance and utilize my artistic abilities that I never thought I would be able to use again which include exercise, self-expression, performance and competition as part of Team DanceSport USA as well as other disabled individuals to live an active lifestyle.

To accomplish my new goals and the changes in my life first priority is to A. change my mobility, B. Fundraise for my dance expenses; 1. Dance costumes. 2. Training. 3. Travel Expenses. C. Become more involved in wheelchair dance and networking. A power chair would be essential I cannot full participate though because I am unable to propel my manual wheelchair.

Julianna Farella

Staten Island

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We work together on goals, support each other

and develop friendships

I have a physical disability since birth and I use a wheelchair. I worked as a Social Worker for twenty four years; however, I am presently on Social Security Disability and seeking part-time employment.  I have a weight problem and needed to find a way to exercise on land.

Since I joined the ballroom Wheelchair Dancesport Program in June 20006, I have been feeling better upper body flexibility.  I have learned to practice better posture while dancing.  I can sit up straight and hold my posture and try to move gracefully instead of slouching in the wheelchair.  The instructor teaches exercises that we can practice and build on each lesson.   He is patient but tough and tries to build on each participants’

 strengths. I am also learning how to manipulate my manual wheelchair when dancing with partners. For someone with a hand- eye coordination problem, this is not easy.

Everyone knows music is way very good way combat depression.  When I am focused on the music I am not thinking of the difficulty of moving and exercising, but of keeping time with the music and moving different parts of your body to the music.  I have also met people from all walks of lives.  We work together on goals, support each other and

Develop friendships.

Most of all, the program is joyful.  I hope the program continues to bring joy to others.  

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Martha Mendez

New York

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