There is nothing more beautiful than dance...

Here is the original mail sent by Ryan and Janelle,:

"Dear Big Favour,

My husband, Ryan and I teach Ballroom and Latin-American dancing to the disabled in KZN, we are the only dancing studio in Durban doing so.  There lessons are sponsored by the KZN Arts Trust and they attend lessons religiously.  We feel so fortunately to be involved in this aspect of dancing and feel that our teaching has taken on a new meaning.  Our dance studio is called Dance Basics but under that umbrella name we have THIS ABILITY DANCE – (we named this purely because we don’t see these children as having a dis-ability but rather this-ability) !

When we teach wheelchair bound dancers we get into our own wheelchairs and teach this way as it is easier for them to see the movement and understand how to manoeuvre the chair to get the “steps” correct. 

The three wheelchair dancers are Michelle (who was involved in a motor vehicle accident in her teens), Abby (who has brittle bone syndrome, Osteogenises Imperfecta) and Tachiana (who was born with Birth Asphyxia and has been diagnosed with Spastic Diaplegia) all partnered by some of our more experienced abled-bodied dancers. 

Michelle together with her partner, Menzie  will feature in this year’s annual production of Shall We Dance in the Playhouse in September 2013. We feel so blessed to have them as part of our studio and would love to be able to take them all down with us to Cape Town for the National Disabled Dance Championships in Stellenbosch in October 2013 but obviously this would cost way too much for what they could afford.  

Therefore, I am asking if there is a anyway The Big Favour would be able to assist us in getting our students down to Cape Town with transport or and accommodation for the period 4-6 October 2013 so that they can not only compete but also to see that there are many other dancers of different disabilities been exposed to this dance style.  We would have about 29 disabled dancers plus 3 abled bodied partners for the wheelchair dancers and 2 teachers that would require assistance.

In closing Ryan and I would be so grateful if you could in any way help us give this wonderful experience and opportunity to these children."

 

Take a listen to how the magic unfolded and how these amazing dancers now have a chance to show off their amazing talent...

A massive thank you to  Claire Tyler from Europcar South Africa’s

A massive thank you to Michelle from Travel Dynamix who sponsored fuel for the team!

And of course to Esme for her amazing Big Favour cakes!