Wheelchair Dancing!

Posted in In My Feelings

Hey, guys! I’m really excited about this post 😊 I’ve been doing a deep dive into disability culture recently and I’ve absolutely loved what I’ve found. There are so many different ways to create art: there are mouth and foot painting artists (I’m one myself because I can only type, write, and draw with a pen in my mouth), entire bands of people who play instruments like the drums, guitar, and piano with their feet, and people who tie film cameras around their heads to shoot incredibly creative films without any limbs. I’ve seen record-breaking race car drivers who drive with their feet and amazing archers who do the same. But a recent part of disability culture that I’ve truly come to love is wheelchair dancing.

Me drawing with a pencil in my mouth

If you know me, you know that I absolutely adore dancing. I find it to be such a powerful form of expression and it can easily move me to tears if it’s filled with enough emotion to do so. I know lots of different types of street, ballroom, contemporary, and Latin dances (Argentine Tango is probably my favourite. The intimacy and complex leg work in that one is simply *chef’s kiss*) as well as the official terms for some of the moves. I used to be a part of a dance group in Primary School when I was still able to walk and we would perform at different school events. I don’t think I was very good but it was always really fun!  

Picture of a girl dancing freely by Diego Rosa via Unsplash.com

After I became a permanent wheelchair-user, I told myself that I’d never dance in public again. I would feel such a longing when I saw others dance and wanted that freedom of movement and expression back more than anything. I am a little more comfortable dancing in front of others now but I’m still quite shy about it and it isn’t the same anymore. However, I dance every day in my room when I’m alone because I love how it makes me feel. When I’m dancing – I’m flying. I feel so free and connected to myself as every move causes the world to slowly melt away around me.

Everything changed once I saw wheelchair dancing for the first time on YouTube. Now I like to choreograph ways to incorporate my chair into dances like the Viennese Waltz and the Paso Doble in my mind as I sway around my room (I just wish I had someone to dance and try them out with!) It truly inspired me to think about different creative ways that I could move my body in order to dance. I feel even more relaxed dancing in front of others and I also have something new to look forward to: I hope one day to try out wheelchair dancing. I just have to find someplace in The Netherlands where it’s practised. I think it would be an amazing experience.

Below are three different one-minute videos of wheelchair dancing that I picked to share. My favourite wheelchair dancers are Marisa Hamamoto and Piotr Iwanicki so I just had to share their work, but I’ll also share links to some other dancers afterwards. I hope that you’ll enjoy them! 😊

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The first is an emotional contemporary dance. I love the emotion and intimacy in this one:

The second is slightly more unique and alternative, and also features a group dance with other wheelchair-users at the end. I feel as if it truly embodies the term ‘disability culture’ and expression:

The last is another contemporary one. It’s a two-minute video but I made sure that the video would start halfway through so it’s still just a one-minute clip of the dance. I like the lifts in this one:

Marisa and Piotr aren’t the only wheelchair dancers out there though. There are so many different wheelchair dance videos on YouTube which I think deserve way more views considering how talented the dancers are. In case you’re interested – here is a dance where the woman is the wheelchair-user and the man is the able-bodied dancer because it works just as well that way around too: (280) BELIEVER: Wheelchair dancer defies gravity – YouTube, here is an extremely emotional wheelchair dance between two men: (280) “What About Us” Marc Lafleur & Dmitry Kim – YouTube, and this is a group dance with hundreds of disabled dancers: (280) Official #InfiniteInclusion Flashmob by Infinite Flow A Wheelchair Dance Company – YouTube. The possibilities are limitless.

Wheelchair dancing doesn’t even have to be between an able-bodied dancer and a wheelchair dancer: I’ve also seen dances between two wheelchair dancers which is really cool because they can hold hands and spin around each other so fast as they go under each other’s arms and turn around. They sometimes move so swiftly that it can be hard to keep track of! There are also some examples of this on YouTube.

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I hope that you enjoyed this post about a taste of disability culture! Which dance was your favourite? I plan on doing more posts like this in the future: what part of disability culture would you be interested to hear me talk about next – music or art? Thank you so much for reading ❤ See you soon!

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Published by The Wheelchair Teen

I am a black, disabled teenager and my blog shares my personal experiences, some of the struggles and triumphs I’ve been through, as well as posts that educate people about disabilities to help end discrimination against disabled people.

155 thoughts on “Wheelchair Dancing!”

    1. I’m very happy that you enjoyed watching these videos – I always feel extremely glad to share cool parts of disability culture like this. I just feel like this isn’t how a lot of people see us – instead, they choose to focus on the negatives and the pity mostly. I wanted to share one of the beautiful aspects of it. I’m grateful that I found a way to recreate something that I like too 😊 Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with me, have a lovely day! ❤

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    1. You’re welcome, when I saw them for the first time I just knew that I had to share them. They truly are so innovative and are clearly performed by extremely skilled dancers. I’m glad that you also enjoyed learning about a different side to me as well 😊

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    1. I’m glad that you enjoyed the first one – I think that might be my favourite too. That lift with the neck muscles indeed was very impressive. I very much like Bob Marley and Satisfy My Soul is a really nice song to dance to. One can sway and shake so easily and smoothly to the rhythym 🎶🎵🎼

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  6. I administer a chronic illness support Face Book page for my church. Your blogs are most inspiring, demonstrating one with different abilities can live a full, fruitful life. I’ve added a link to your blog site to that page in hopes that followers, who suffer from all manner of chronic illnesses will read your inspiring words. God bless you!

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing a link to my blog site on your Face book page! That’s amazing! I truly appreciate it ❤ I’m very glad that you administer such a supportive group, I’m sure that it helps many people. God bless you too! ❤🌷❤

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  7. Wow. This is great. I’m glad that you researched a lot about wheelchair dancing and thanks for sharing it with us. I hope that you will be able to dance the same way without any reservations too. All those videos are amazing. The first one blew my mind!

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    1. You’re welcome, I feel like it was such an innovative and creative form of expression. I hope that I’ll be able to dance soon without any reservations too, maybe when the lockdown is over in the Netherlands I’ll be able to find a club or organization that does wheelchair dancing near where I live. I’m really glad that you liked the first video, it truly is amazing and it definitely stole my breath away! ❤❤❤

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      1. It’s very innovative and creative indeed. I hope that you’ll be able to find a club or a group that does wheelchair dancing. Stay inspired, stay happy, Simone 😊❤️

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  8. A lot of respect for the goals you’ve set for yourself.
    I hope from the buttom of my heart that you’ll achieve them.
    The video’s you enclosed are realy breathtaking.
    Have a nice weekend 🙂

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    1. I’m very happy that you enjoyed these videos! I agree, they truly are breath-taking. Thank you so much for these encouraging words, it means a lot that you respect my goals. I hope that I’ll be able to achieve them too. I wish you a nice weekend in return 😊

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl, I’m glad you liked these videos. I’m also happy that you two danced on your wedding day, having people sit on their laps is how a lot of wheelchair-users dance and it’s really fun. I’ve had people do that with me too. It must have been extra special on that day though because it was your first dance as husband and wife so I’m sure it was quite romantic. I hope that I can find a partner or group soon too, I just think I need to do some research about possible options here in The Netherlands.

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  12. Wow these dance performances are amazing, I like third one the most ❤❤❤ Dancing as a art form is so liberating ❤❤ Go for it !!! You are gonna love and enjoy this

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    1. I know, right? They really are incredible so I felt as if I just had to share them and spread the happiness and awe I felt while watching them. Oooo, I like the third one too – I’ve seen able-bodied dancers who sometimes struggle to do that move where he spun her around on the floor. I agree, dancing is such a liberating artform. Thank you, I will, I hope that I’ll end up loving it and enjoying it too ❤❤❤

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  15. I love this article, thank you so much for sharing!!! It’s beautiful and awesome to know more about you and your journey!!! I always appreciate your vulnerability and authenticity, it’s so inspiring! I had no idea about wheelchair dancing, thank you so much for bringing light to it! I’m so happy there’s a way to keep doing what you love in dancing!! Keep being beautifully you and shining your light 🖤🤗💫

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    1. You’re welcome, I’m very happy that you enjoyed learning more about me and my journey. It means a lot that you appreciate my vulnerability, opening up here always helps me to accept things that I’ve been through. Wheelchair dancing is really amazing, I feel glad to have introduced it to you. Thank you so much, you always write such touching and encouraging comments. Stay creative and unique, Ace! ❤😊❤

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    1. I’m glad that it got your attention! 😊 That is a very interesting idea – I looked it up and it turns out that there is such thing as wheelchair yoga! I’m not that surprised since I do seated cardio and pilates work-outs everyday. Thanks for introducing me to the concept of wheelchair yoga – now I have something new to try 😊

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    1. I’m really happy that you enjoyed these! Believe me, I was speechless too when I first saw these dances. They are really incredible! Thank you so much for visiting and sharing your thoughts with me! ❤❤❤

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  19. Just…wow. It must take a tremendous effort at times (I’m especially thinking about the videos where the male dancers lower themselves on their back!), yet they manage to make it look so smooth. What About Us was powerful.

    I hope you’ll find a place where you can dance too!

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    1. Yeah, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be, even though they make it look so easy. I agree, the What About Us dance was really powerful. I also think that the meaning in the song delivers a powerful message that goes along well with their dancing. Thanks, Roberta, I just think I need to do a bit more research about dance facilities in my area. I’ll probably dive more into it after I have both of my vaccines.

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  20. Simone, what an inspiration! Both the dances and your writing and perspective. Have you thought about starting something in your area? I would love to see a video of you dancing 😊 Thank you for inspiring me to see things in a different way. I had no idea, but of course it is a thing! Why would it not be?!

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    1. You’re most welcome, I’m so glad that this post inspired you to see things in a different way! I always feel extremely happy to introduce people to such a creative and innovative artform. Thank you so much for calling my writing and perspective inspiring as well! I haven’t thought about starting something in my area before but that is a very good idea. I’ve always wanted to start something with the other disabled people in my area. Maybe when I’m a little older and have a job I’ll be able to put something together 😊

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  23. It was awe-inspiring… I had seem wheelchair dancing before, where parts of the fluid movements of the wheelchair participant is replicated somewhat in wheelchair basketball… such intricate moves are mesmerising…
    🇯🇲🏖️

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    1. I agree, their intricate movements are indeed mesmerising and must take a lot of effort to perform – especially with such emotion behind every movement as well. Interesting, I wasn’t aware that how they sometimes move in wheelchair dancing is similar to movement in wheelchair basketball – it makes sense though. Thanks for sharing ❤

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      1. Football, (truth is, I don’t understand it much), however, when they make a play, and they show the replay in slow motion… I could watch that ALL DAY…! Such big men moving with the delicate ness of professional dancers has me glued to the front of my seat… who cares who won…! As far as I am concerned… both teams won…

        It is the same for me with wheelchair basketball… the movements are magical…
        🇯🇲🏖️

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  27. Thank you for sharing another inspiring post!… you may have to make some adjustments but there is nothing stopping you living life!!… “If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right” (Mary Kay Ash)… 🙂

    Until we meet again..
    May the sun shine all day long
    Everything go right, nothing go wrong
    May those you love bring love back to you
    And may all the wishes you wish come true
    (Irish Saying)

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  29. The video’s and your love for dancing are impressive. It’s not possible anymore to speak about “disabled” people, only about differently able. I wish you’ll have a lot of fun while dancing with the partner(s) you’ll find.
    Have a nice evening.

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    1. It’s true that disabled shouldn’t mean that we can do less things – it just means that we do things differently. I’m very happy that you found these videos to be impressive, the performers are clearly incredibly skilled and I also really like the choreography in all of them too. I hope that I’ll be able to find a partner that I can have fun dancing with as well. Have a nice evening too ❤😊❤

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  30. These are wonderful, Simone. Once again, your post has expanded my vision—so grateful for that!

    I look forward to the first video you post of you wheelchair dancing! In the meantime, I’m happy if you just follow your passion in what you present to us. It’s all valuable!

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    1. Thank you, Annie. I feel honoured to be expanding your already quite broad vision with my posts 😊 Thank you for these extremely encouraging words, it’s nice to hear that someone is looking forward to it. Hopefully one day I can get there, I’m also enjoying following my passion through what I share here for now 🌻🌻🌻

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    1. I’m so happy that you found this to be inspiring and that you loved these videos ❤ I agree, I think that the first one is my favourite too. XD I feel the same way about people who can sing really well since my voice is as squeaky as a mouse 😊

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    1. I’m so happy that you loved them! ❤ I also admire their strength, grace, and coordination. It must take trust and extreme amounts of skill to be able to do the lifts that they performed. I also like watching ice skating too, smooth movements can be so satisfying to see when they’re executed well.

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      1. I was just watching – and sharing – the video again, and I had the same additional thought – TRUST. I watched a bunch of them, and the one moment the woman lay under wheelchair as he wheeled over her …! They must know each other so we’ll, watching them is like watching one person. 💕

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  34. I had seen a wheelchair dancing video once before, a family member showed it to me on YouTube. It is amazing! I loved hearing your thoughts on it and I really hope you will find a wheelchair dancing partner one day! I watched all of the videos you mentioned, they are all amazing. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be the very first one you linked, I can see why these two dancers are your favourite. But I also really liked the video of the many wheelchair dancers (the very last one you linked), to see what a group dance would look like. I watched all the videos you linked and they were all amazing imo, the one between the two men looked emotional also.

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    1. I’m glad that you’ve seen wheelchair dancing before, it really is amazing! I hope that I can find a dance partner too someday and I’m happy that you enjoyed hearing my thoughts about it. I’m also glad that you liked the first video that I linked – I really like the attitude in that performance. It was cool to see what a group dance would look like – that’s why I really like that Flashmob one with all of the dancers. Yes, the ‘What About Us’ dance was also really emotional – I think that one was one of the best ones when it came to performance.

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  35. This is remarkable. Dancing is such an expressive art form. Body, soul, mind in complete rhythm. I’m really glad that you shared this. The three videos are out of this world. So much grace and perfection. It makes one realize that there’s nothing that can’t be achieved if we put our minds to it. I hope you’re practicing too. I’m sure you can pull of some swift moves. What a joy to see this. Keep writing and inspiring! You’re a bundle of energy and positivity. 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me about these dances, your words are still incredibly beautiful even in your comments ❤ I agree, dance is an incredibly expressive artform and I feel like dancing like this is especially creative and innovative. I’m very happy that you enjoyed these videos – I agree that the grace and perfection that they exhibit while dancing is absolutely phenomonal. I’m looking forward to being able to professionally practise it someday, but for now while I’m just dancing in my bedroom – I can indeed pull off some pretty swift moves 😉

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    1. Thank you, I’m so happy that you thought this was amazing! 😊 If anyone has enough passion, nothing can stop them from doing anything. It means a lot that you’re excited to see my paintings when I share them. I have shared a few on my blog before but I’ll probably still share a few new ones if I make them.

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  37. Wow, how creative. It only shows how creative and imaginative you are. And there are so many different ways to express ourselves and utilize what’s available around us. You are such an inspiration to us all.

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    1. I’m so glad that you thought this was creative 😊 Very true – if there’s one thing being disabled has taught me it’s that there are literally hundreds of different ways to do things and express who we are with different parts of our body. Thank you so much for calling me an inspiration, you really made my day ❤

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  38. Wow, Simone! This was absolutely precious! I loved all the videos…I was awestruck when I saw the first one. Mind-blowing!!! I am so grateful today after reading this.. And watching such amazing videos. It makes me think of so many things we take for granted and how much we complain. Life is how you make it, isn’t it, love. Thank you for posting this and sharing the vidoes. Stay blessed always ❤️❤️💫✨🥰🌹🙏

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    1. I’m extremely happy that you enjoyed this post so much! Your comment really made me smile, it definitely makes it worth it sharing posts like this when the response is so positive! 😊 These videos are really amazing so I felt happy to share them, the dancers are so talented that their moves deeply moved me. Exactly – life is how we make it. I’ve learnt to find different ways to do things rather than complaining. Stay blessed too my dear ❤🌷❤

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  39. I’ve seen wheelchair users dance in the past but nothing like this! I am in awe. It’s incredible how creative those two dancers are to expand this form to encompass their desires…remarkable and beautiful. Thank you for sharing this Simone, it’s such a hopeful post:)

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    1. I’m happy that you have seen wheelchair dancing before, it is indeed a remarkable artform. I agree – Marisa and Piotr are extremely creative with their choreography. You’re welcome, I’m glad that you thought this was a hopeful post 😊 I hope that you’ll have an incredible day today 🌷🌷🌷

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  42. The videos are incredible!!
    But what makes my heart dance with joy and inspiration is you and your spirit my friend!! You are truly amazing with your exploration and how much knowledge you have about various dance styles and terms. I have a hopefully not permanent block with dancing. I immediately freeze at the thought of dancing so I derive a lot of happiness from watching others dance. What a gift to know that dance makes you fly and deeply move to tears. I am so touched and thrilled with your post ✨💛✨

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    1. Thank you so much! ❤ I’m truly glad that you enjoyed these videos and hearing me share my own story about dance! Thanks for calling my knowledge of dance amazing, it brings me so much joy to be able to recognise different moves and understand their placement in certain dance sequences and types. Watching others dance can also be a great experience – I’m happy that you enjoy doing so. This comment put a huge smile on my face, thanks once again, have an amazing day! 💚🌻💚

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      1. recognise different moves and understand their placement in certain dance sequences and types – this is truly impressive and commendable for me! 🙂 You are very welcome, Much Love always 💛💝✨

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  43. Wow, this is absolutely stunning. I am seeing this first time. ❤️❤️ I simply adore the concept of being able to dance sitting in the wheelchair. Thanks for sharing the videos. 😍 I wish that you may soon find your dance partner. Stay positive. 🤝

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    1. I’m happy to have introduced you to wheelchair dancing! It’s my favourite type of dance and I agree that it is very stunning. I hope that I’ll be able to find a dance partner soon too, but for the mean time, I’ll take your advice and stay positive ❤😊❤

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  44. Beautiful videos. These dancers are amazing. I tried dancing when I was a child but somehow I had problems memorizing choreographies. I wish it had been different. I hope you find a place where you can give it a try.

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    1. Thank you 😊 I agree that these dances are amazing so I felt happy to share them. I understand – sometimes memorizing choreography doesn’t come as easy as other types of memory like visual memory or numerical memory. The type of memory I struggle with the most is remembering numbers. I hope that I can find a place where I can give it a go too. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me, have a lovely day! ❤❤❤

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  45. Pingback: (Poem) Glutton – The Wheelchair Teen

  46. I loved the music and the free form of the large group, I would like to have seen me wheel chair dancers in the front more, bit it was wonderfully energetic and joyous. Number One was beautiful and a little sexy and I loved the music too, Number two was a little sexy and beautiful. I was pleased to see the dancer with a disability, and still had the moves. I am not sure I like the word disability, because I do not feel he was disabled, he was perfectly able. It was a difficult choice, but number one had some amazing moves. I will go 1, 2, 3 in that order. Thank you so much for posting this. I am re-blogging, so hopefully more people will watch it.

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    1. I agree, I also wanted to see more wheelchair dancers at the front but it was still clearly full of joy and happiness. I loved the music in one too – so much so that I added the song to my playlist because I’d never heard it before. The word ‘disability’ is not meant to be taken so literally I think. A lot of non-disabled people think that it sounds negative and offensive, but most of the disability community that I’ve encountered are fine with it. Some of the other terms for disabilities like ‘special needs’ and ‘physically-challenged’ sound a little patronising. But disabled isn’t an insult – it’s what I am and I’m proud to be. It’s come to represent so much more than being able to do less – now it simply represents doing things differently. I agree – I think one, two, three is my order too although it is a very difficult desicion, I truly appeciate you reblogging this, that really means a lot. Thanks so much for sharing it! ❤❤❤

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  49. I know I’m a little late in commenting here, but after watching 3 of these videos: my mind was just simply blown! 🤩🤯

    I really, really, REALLY am mesmerized by the sheer skill and smooth flow of each choreography as well as the emotions conveyed in each of them. Such talents seriously need more recognition cause they’re heavily underrated!

    I personally enjoyed the Water choreography: the emotions and moves were just breathtaking.

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    1. I’m SO happy that you enjoyed these videos so much! It truly seems that you understood the passion that these dancers were trying to convey. I agree, the skill and smooth flow of all of the choreography is amazing, and yes – very underrated considering how good it is! The Water one was my favourite too – not just the moves, but the music, emotion, and intimacy in that one blew me away.

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