DanceAbility Stories: Part 2
Good evening everyone! Hope your week was good. We are back for part two of DanceAbility Stories! This week's story is written by Karen Daly, sharing how she has been impacted by DanceAbility.
My first encounter with DanceAbility was in the winter of 1994 when I was 43 years old (I’m much younger now that I’m a dancer ;) I’m a right leg amputee and was making my way on crutches at the time. The workshop was in the old Agate Hall in Eugene, filled to capacity with all sorts of people - a lively mix of bodies with and without disabilities, all ages, sizes and persuasions - coming together to get to know their unique bodies through movement in-and-out of contact with others. If I told you I wasn’t a tad nervous, self-conscious and self-doubting that day (who me, with one leg, a dancer?), I would be lying. However, soon after we began the warm-up, I settled into a gentle awareness of how lovely it felt to lie on the floor, roll around and feel my body moving through space. The structures (scores in dance-speak) Alito led us through brought out a playfulness in me that continues to deepen and spill over into my day to day activities.
That was the first of many workshops I’ve been a part of, in many different DanceAbility communities nationally and in other parts of the world. I’ve learned to love and find joy in my unique body. My relationships with others have been enhanced because I’m more present with my whole self. The part of me that wants to criticize and point out my imperfections is quieter, and is able to see how amazingly strong and beautiful my body is when I make time for dancing.
DanceAbility introduced me to a new way of living in and with my body. Today I can honestly say:
*I love my body moving*
Karen recently wrote and published a biography on her life- it can be purchased at the first link below. Get involved with DanceAbility this year! First, we have a 5-day Intensive taught by Jana Meszaros, right here in Eugene, Oregon. This is a great chance for you to get a great idea of the DanceAbility Method, this training is open to high school students as well as adults! Second, want even more knowledge of this Method? We have a month long certification to become a certified teacher of the DanceAbility Method in Vienna, Austria! You can find more information about the upcoming trainings at the links belows:
https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Ride-One-Legged-Journey-Acceptancce/dp/1977815448/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517895371&sr=8-1&keywords=joy+ride+karen+witt+daly
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QvCPu18JvIF5XATR_zENFXp109pKayxvnO2Z9LW2Ajg/viewform?edit_requested=true
https://www.impulstanz.com/en/danceability-teacher-certification/2018/
My first encounter with DanceAbility was in the winter of 1994 when I was 43 years old (I’m much younger now that I’m a dancer ;) I’m a right leg amputee and was making my way on crutches at the time. The workshop was in the old Agate Hall in Eugene, filled to capacity with all sorts of people - a lively mix of bodies with and without disabilities, all ages, sizes and persuasions - coming together to get to know their unique bodies through movement in-and-out of contact with others. If I told you I wasn’t a tad nervous, self-conscious and self-doubting that day (who me, with one leg, a dancer?), I would be lying. However, soon after we began the warm-up, I settled into a gentle awareness of how lovely it felt to lie on the floor, roll around and feel my body moving through space. The structures (scores in dance-speak) Alito led us through brought out a playfulness in me that continues to deepen and spill over into my day to day activities.
That was the first of many workshops I’ve been a part of, in many different DanceAbility communities nationally and in other parts of the world. I’ve learned to love and find joy in my unique body. My relationships with others have been enhanced because I’m more present with my whole self. The part of me that wants to criticize and point out my imperfections is quieter, and is able to see how amazingly strong and beautiful my body is when I make time for dancing.
DanceAbility introduced me to a new way of living in and with my body. Today I can honestly say:
*I love my body moving*
Karen recently wrote and published a biography on her life- it can be purchased at the first link below. Get involved with DanceAbility this year! First, we have a 5-day Intensive taught by Jana Meszaros, right here in Eugene, Oregon. This is a great chance for you to get a great idea of the DanceAbility Method, this training is open to high school students as well as adults! Second, want even more knowledge of this Method? We have a month long certification to become a certified teacher of the DanceAbility Method in Vienna, Austria! You can find more information about the upcoming trainings at the links belows:
https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Ride-One-Legged-Journey-Acceptancce/dp/1977815448/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517895371&sr=8-1&keywords=joy+ride+karen+witt+daly
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QvCPu18JvIF5XATR_zENFXp109pKayxvnO2Z9LW2Ajg/viewform?edit_requested=true
https://www.impulstanz.com/en/danceability-teacher-certification/2018/
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