Cheryl Angelelli and Tamerlan Gadirov are dance partners that have been preparing for a big competition next month. “Live in the D” caught up with them during one of their rehearsals to get a sneak peek into what it takes to bring home the gold.
“Wheelchair ballroom dancing is called Para Dance Sport,” Angelelli said. “It is ballroom dancing in a wheelchair. We do all kinds of styles of ballroom dance. We do Jive, we do Quickstep, we do Waltz, we do Latin dancing, we do Salsa, Samba, anything is possible.”
Cheryl is no stranger to competition. After an accident at swim practice when she was 14, she became a quadriplegic. But, didn’t stop her from swimming. She went on to win bronze and silver medals at the Paralympics, and once retired, she decided to learn wheelchair ballroom dancing.
Together with Tamerlan she hopes to win gold at the Para Dance Sport International Competition taking place August 10th and 11th at the Dearborn Community and Performing Arts Center. Contenders from all over the world will dance in categories as singles, with a standing partner and with both athletes in a wheelchair. It’s also the first time the competition is being held in the United States.
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