Para (Wheelchair) Dance Sport
All images © to the Ukrainian National Para Dance Sport Team
Introduction
Para (Wheelchair) Dance Sport is an extremely elegant, graceful and stylish sport which involves athletes with a physical impairment that affects the lower limbs. Participants can compete as singles, duos or formations.
Para Dance Sport was developed in Sweden in 1968 for recreational and rehabilitation purposes. The first para dance sport competition was held in Vasteras, Sweden with 30 couples in 1975 and two years later the first international competition was held. The first World Championships took place in Japan in 1998. Today the sport is widely practiced in 30 countries.
The sport is governed by the IPC and co-ordinated by the IPC Para Dance Sport Technical Committee. The Technical Committee incorporates rules from the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF).
The IPC Para Dance World Championships are held every two years and were last staged in 2019 in Bonn, Germany.
How to Compete
Participants can compete combi style, dancing with an able bodied (standing) partner, or duo dance for two wheelchair users together. Group dance involves wheelchair users only or together with able-bodied partners whereas single dance sees a wheelchair user dance alone.
Dancers compete on a dance floor that is a minimum of 250 square meters and have the option of using electric wheelchairs.
Dancers compete in either Standard Ballroom dances (Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot and Quickstep) or Latin American dances (Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive). Recently, Freestyle and Show Dances have also been included (Folk, Hip Hop, Standard, Ballet, Street, Salsa, Argentine Tango, Cumbia, Belly Dance etc.)
Basic Rules of Para Dance Sport
Please click here to download the Rule Book from the International Paralympic Committee that is used at national/international events.
Who can participate in Para Dance Sport
Impairment Type
Para Dance Sport involves athletes with a physical impairment that affects the lower limbs.
The Eligible Impairment Types and Minimum Disability Criteria for Para Dance Sport are as follows:
| Minimum Disability Criteria | Example |
|---|---|
| Hypertonia, Ataxia or Athetosis | Medical condition resulting from damage of central nervous system presenting spasticity and/or discoordination involving at minimum one lower limb with Grade 2 on the Modified Ashworth Scale |
| Impaired Muscle Power | Loss of at least 10 muscle strength points across both lower limbs in hip flexors, hip extensors, hip adductors, hip abductors, knee flexors, knee extensors, ankle dorsi- and plantar flexors, according to the Daniels and Worthingham Scale (Max. Score of 80) |
| Impaired Passive Range of Movement | Limitation of movement in the knee with an extension defect of at least 30 degrees or ankle ankyloses. |
| Limb Deficiency | Amputation through the ankle (Symes Amputation) or dysmelia resulting in the absence. |
| Leg Length Difference | Leg length difference of at least seven (7) centimetres. |
Classification
To ensure competition is fair and equal Para Dance Sport has a classification which ensures that winning is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus, the same factors that account for success in sport for able bodied athletes.
For athletes who are eligible to participate in Para Dance Sport there are two classes – LWD 1 and LWD 2.
More information about classification can be found here.
How Do I Get Classified?
Athletes are classified according to their functional abilities, based on sport specific tests, which include:
Wheel control – ability to accelerate and stop the wheel by either hand
Push function – ability to control wheelchair movement while pushing and while in hand contact with the dance partner
Pull function – ability to control wheelchair movement while pulling and while in hand contact with the dance partner
Full arm rotation – ability to perform a controlled movement of the free arm reaching full extension of the joints and full co-ordination
Trunk rotation – ability to fully rotate the trunk without losing balance
These five criteria are tested on a hard floor under competition conditions using a points system whereby 2 points is awarded for full function, 1 point for reduced function and 0 points for no function. A maximum of 20 points can be awarded. Athletes with 14 points of less are classed as LWD1 and athletes with more than 14 points fall into the LWD2 class.
Get Involved
Where Can I Participate In Para Dance SPort
Para Dance Sport is always looking for new people to participate, both wheelchair users and able bodied partners! Anyone is welcome!
Download the flyer here or see contacts below under "Who Runs the Sport?" for more information.
Athlete Pathway
The physical benefits of wheelchair dancing from beginner to advanced levels include the maintenance of physical balance, flexibility, range of motion, coordination and improved respiratory control. The psychological effects of dancing are social interaction and the development of relationships. For social dancers, it is an opportunity to engage in a fun and a friendly event with others and to express yourself through music and movement. After several years of regular training dancers are ready to compete on the national and then international level, where they can grow into a top level athlete, or even a World Champion.
To find out more about the competition pathway please see contacts below under “Who Runs the Sport?”.
Become an Official
Development opportunities are provided through state organisations and local clubs. Please see contacts listed below in "Who Runs The Sport?" for more information.
Become a Classifier
A Classifier is a person authorised and certified by IPC Para Dance Sport as being competent to conduct Athlete Evaluation. To be considered for certification as an IPC Para Dance Sport Classifier, IPC Para Dance Sport requires Classifiers to be a certified health professional in a field relevant to the Impairment category which IPC Para Dance Sport at its sole discretion deems acceptable, e.g. physicians and physiotherapists.
It is crucial that classifiers have a strong understanding of Para Dance Sport. To ensure this, candidates must have experience in para dance sport either as a participant, volunteer, coach or administrator.
To find out more about the classifier pathway contact Disability Sports Australia (contact details below).
Become a Volunteer
Volunteer at state/local competitions through contacting the local offices stated below under "Who Runs the Sport?"
For able bodied Ballroom and Latin American dancers, it is possible to participate in sport as standing partners for wheelchair users.
events
State
Please contact your state office (listed in “Who Runs The Sport?” section below) for details about up-coming state and local competitions.
UPCOMING NATIONAL EVENTS
Please visit our Events Page for any upcoming National events.
UpCOMING International EVENTS
Please visit our Events Page for any upcoming International events.
WHO RUNS THE SPORT?
AUSTRALIA
Disability Sports Australia
Website: http://www.sports.org.au/
P: +61 2 8736 1221
E: info@sports.org.au
STate / tERritories
New South Wales
Dance Around School of Dance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParaDanceSydney/
E: info@dancearound.com.au
Queensland
Sporting Wheelies & Disabled Association
Website: https://www.sportingwheelies.org.au/
P: +61 7 3253 3333
E: davidb@sportingwheelies.org.au
Victoria
Disability Sport & Recreation
Website: https://dsr.org.au/
P: 03 9473 0158
E: ayden.shaw@dsr.org.au
Western Australia
DanceSport Western Australia
Website: https://dancesport.org.au/state/wa/wa.php
P: 0439 186 198
E: jan.m.hunt@hotmail.com
South Australia
DanceSport South Australia
P: 0403 971 624
E: exec.sa@dancesport.org.au
INTERNATIONAL
International Paralympic Committee
Website: https://www.paralympic.org/wheelchair-dance-sport
E: camila.rodrigues@paralympic.org
P: +49 228 2097 235
PARALYMPIC
Australian Paralympic Committee
P: +61 2 9704 0500
E: auspara@paralympic.org.au
Website: http://www.paralympic.org.au/
Get in Contact
Disability Sports Australia
P: +61 2 8736 1221
E: info@sports.org.au
Website: http://www.sports.org.au/
Resources
International Rule Book from International Paralympic Committee
Para Dance Sport Get Involved Information from Disability Sports Australia
Videos
Because everybody deserves to dance from Now This
Standard Tango Duo from Daria Alforova and the Ukrainian National Wheelchair Dance Sport Team
Latin Cha Cha Cha Duo and Combi from Daria Alforova and the Ukrainian National Wheelchair Dance Sport Team
