Collar starched stiff, hair slicked to the side, Kao Sheng-tsun (高昇村) was primped and preened, ready to take the dance floor. His white shirt was unbuttoned halfway, exposing his broad, bare chest. Like any dancer, Kao was intently focused on his partner and the Latin music.
Unlike most dancers, however, Kao makes his tight spins and flamboyant twirls in a wheelchair.
Kao and other wheelchair dancers say they have seen more people take up the sport in the past few years. They encourage others with physical disabilities to give it a try, and tout as benefits an increase in confidence and physical strength. Kao, 51, says he has seen such personal gains over the five years he’s spent learning the waltz and other dances.
Photo: John Evans
“Dancing can let me better understand life,” said the Yunlin County resident, who has walked with the aid of crutches since a childhood bout with polio. “It’s a way to tell God I’m alive.”
Once at week at Chenchen Dance Studio (真真舞蹈補習班) in Taichung, Kao and his able-bodied partner Lin Pao-i (林寶怡) practice the waltz, tango and foxtrot. Their movements are crisp and complementary.
Staying in sync takes practice and an intimate understanding of what each other is doing on the dance floor. It takes about six months to learn a new dance, Lin says.
Photo: John Evans
“At times I lead and at times he’s on his own,” she says. “We practice a lot of powerful-looking moves.”
Standing far enough away to give him space, she needs to tightly clasp Kao’s wrists to spin her partner. Kao’s straightened back and puffed out chest give the illusion that he is leading.
It’s a complicated move. And just as when one dancer steps on another’s toes, occasionally a wheel can roll over Lin’s foot.
Photo: John Evans
To make the dance moves possible, Kao’s wheelchair is uniquely designed. The front wheels are smaller than usual, making it easier to perform quick turns. Kao’s dancing wheelchair is also lighter than regular versions and its wheels are angled out at the bottom, which adds to his maneuverability.
This lighter design makes it easier to do a kind of wheelie, popping the front wheels off the ground for a few seconds to give added movement and excitement to the dance.
“He can spin very fast,” said Kao’s dance instructor, Huang Chien-hao (黃建豪), who owns Chenchen Dance Studio. Huang said he has taught several wheelchair dancers, and initially emphasizes safety to avoid injuries. Some pairs consist of two wheelchair dancers, while others, like Kao and Lin, comprise a wheelchair dancer and an able-bodied partner.
Nationally, there are about 600 pairs of wheelchair dancers, said Huang Ching-i (黃?怡), a judge and dance promoter. Some couples choose to practice privately, but others enjoy the thrill of dancing in front of a crowd, such as at an Aug. 7 competition in Fengyuan that attracted about 40 pairs of dancers.
“This kind of event shows that being handicapped is not an obstacle in life,” Huang Ching-i said. “They’re out there not feeling ashamed about their appearance and feeling confident about themselves.”
While the sport has grown in the past decade or so, she said there is more work to be done. Encouraging greater participation in wheelchair dancing will help overcome the cultural stigma some people with disabilities still face, Huang Ching-i said.
Recruiting volunteers, attracting more spectators and increased fundraising are goals in helping wheelchair dancing succeed, she said. For example, she estimates it costs NT$200,000 to put on a competition, only a portion of which is provided by government funding. Most comes from private donations.
Even the cost of a dancer’s equipment is hefty, with the specialized wheelchair alone reaching upwards of NT$70,000.
But Huang Ching-i sees these hurdles as surmountable.
“The future will be good,” she says. “There is passion right now in wheelchair dancing.”
Kao, a human resource manager at a construction firm, says that he is proud of his role in promoting the sport, including his participation in dozens of competitions.
Dancing, he said, has also given his life more meaning, citing increased pride and a feeling of masculinity. The support of his wife and two children adds to that sense of well-being, he says.
“I want to continue improving in wheelchair dancing and want to use this dance to create more awareness,” he said.
Kao says dancing connects his mind, body and emotions through movement.
“In order to be great in dance and in life,” he said, “you have to connect all three.”
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