Tripping the light fantastic can be good for your health and for your social life.
By Kelly Rouba
Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels modern dance company. People of all abilities can use any or all parts of their bodies to move to the music. (Photo by Dale Dong, courtesy of Dancing Wheels)
As a young man living in New York City, George Gallego often enjoyed going out for a night on the town and hitting the dance floors of some of the hottest clubs around. But, after a tragic accident at work left him paralyzed from the waste down, Gallego quickly decided his clubbing days were over.
Although his friends encouraged him to get back in the party scene, Gallego would often respond by saying, “How am I going to dance in this chair?” After hearing his response one day, Gallego’s cousin decided to take matters into her own hands and began looking for ways to help him learn to dance. That’s when Gallego first met Rubin Zakiryanov.
Zakiryanov, a professional dancer who hails from Russia, moved to the US about ten years ago and founded the Discovery Dance Company in New York City in 2003. In addition to teaching ice skaters how to dance and instructing classes in ballet and hip hop, Zakiryanov decided to offer a unique dance class for individuals in wheelchairs. “I did this class for kids and adults with disabilities and I fell in love with it,” Zakiryanov said.
In April 2006, Zakiryanov founded Wheelchair Dancesport USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching wheelchair users social and competitive forms of ballroom and Latin dancing through private instruction and group classes. Zakiryanov also offers lessons geared to preparing couples to dance at their own wedding.
“I just try to adapt (the steps),” Zakiryanov said. “I want it to look exactly [the same] as everybody else. I bought a wheelchair myself and I am practicing how to adapt this to ballroom dancing.”
During class, Zakiryanov tries to help students recognize that their wheelchair is a part of their body. Students are taught to move their wheelchairs forward, backward, or in a circular motion in an effort to mimic the steps that are required in each dance. Zakiryanov also teaches students arm and neck movements that correspond with normal dance routines.
Those in manual wheelchairs even learn how to balance on one wheel, bounce on both wheels, and do “wheelies” in tune with the music. “You have to know how a wheelchair works and where is the balance because you don’t want it to flip on the floor,” Zakiryanov cautions.
“[The class] keeps me in shape, [and] it’s like a social scene as well,” remarked Gallego, who has studied under Zakiryanov for more than six months now.
“It takes so much to train,” Zakiryanov added. “But it’s fun. I think it’s more recreational and a way to have fun-not to sit home, be homebound. You exercise, but not like in the gym.”
Since the inception of Wheelchair Dancesport USA, Zakiryanov has instructed nearly 100 individuals in wheelchairs from around New York City and even New Jersey. In the future, Zakiryanov hopes to establish a United States team that would compete in ballroom dancing in the next Paralympic Games and at other international events.
“We are trying to get one together,” Zakiryanov said. “To get people to come and practice consistently is very hard. You need at least a year to go through (training) and build up.”
To help him accomplish this, Zakiryanov established the New York City Wheelchair Dance Project. As part of the project, he trains current participants so that they can conduct dance workshops at recreation centers and other facilities around the city in an effort to attract more wheelchair users from all five boros.
Additionally, Zakiryanov is searching for dance instructors who will volunteer their time to help him expand the program by providing more classes around the city. “Not so many people want to volunteer. Everybody has to pay their bills,” he said.
Gallego and fellow classmate Ricardo Corral however, are always willing to lend a hand when needed. “Ricardo Corral and George, they do very well technically. They help me explain to new guys some of the movements,” Zakiryanov said.
Zakiryanov also is in need of monetary donations to keep the organization afloat since he does not charge individuals a fee to participate in the class. “To find money for this, it’s hard. Some friends of mine will help [on occasion],” he said.
Although Zakiryanov has hosted and participated in several events at which participants demonstrated their talent, he has yet to host a fundraising dance competition. “I want to first establish a nice little (performance) group. There are so many people that come and go,” he said.
One person who won’t be going anytime soon is Gallego. And although Gallego still hasn’t graced the dance floor inside of a nightclub since 1992, that soon could change. “I learned that I had the skills (to dance) all along. I just didn’t know how to use them,” Gallego said, adding, “It’s not too different than standing.”
For more information on Wheelchair Dancesport USA, visit www.wheelchairdance sportusa.org or contact Rubin Zakiryanov at (212) 245-0004.
Wheelchair Dance Studios
American DanceWheels Foundation, Inc.
and participating studios in PA, NJ, DE, and NY. Provide instruction on ballroom and Latin dance.
Phone: (215) 588-6671
E-mail: info@americandancewheels.org
Web site: www.americandancewheels.com
Full Radius Dance
Based in Atlanta, GA
Offer instruction on modern dance.
Phone: (404) 724-9663 (voice and fax)
E-mail: fullradiusdance@aol.com
Web site: www.fullradiusdance.org
Dancing Wheels
Based in Cleveland, OH
Classes range from ballet to hip hop.
Phone: (216) 432-0306
E-mail: proflair1@aol.com
Web site: www.dancingwheels.org
Axis Dance Company
Based in Oakland, CA
Style is contemporary dance.
Phone: (510) 625-0110
E-mail: info@axisdance.org
Web site: www.axisdance.org
Ballet Arts Theatre
Based in Denver, CO
Provide ballet instruction.
Phone: (303) 825-7570
E-mail: balletartstheatre@yahoo.com
Web site: www.balletartstheatre.org
Joint Forces Dance Company & DanceAbility
Based in Eugene, OR
Programming includes workshops, choreography, and performances
Phone: (541) 342-3273
E-mail: jointforcesdance@yahoo.com
Web site: www.danceability.com
Kelly Rouba is a regular contributor to Action.
