She without an Arm, He without a Leg – Ballet – Hand in Hand

In China, in a Chinese modern dance competition on TV, one very unique couple won one of the top prizes.

The lady, in her 30’s, was a dancer who had trained since she was a little girl. Later in life, she lost her entire left arm in an accident and fell into a state of depression for a few years.

Someone then asked her to coach a children’s dancing group. From that point on, she realized that she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance and wanted to dance again. So, she started to do some of her old routines, but, having lost her arm, she had also lost her balance. It took a while before she could even make simple turns and spins without falling.

Then she heard of a man in his 20s who had lost a leg in an accident. He had also fallen into the usual denial, depression and anger type of emotional roller coaster. But, she was determined to find him and persuade him to dance with her.

He had never danced and to dance with one leg…. “Are you joking with me, no way?!”

But, she didn’t give up and he reluctantly agreed, thinking, “I have nothing else to do anyway.”

She started to teach him dancing. The two broke up a few times because he had no concept of using muscle, how to control his body and knew nothing of the basic things about dancing. When she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out.

Eventually, they came back together and started training seriously. They hired a choreographer to design routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for one arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg with her leaning on him, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnLVRQCjh8c

In the competition, as is seen in the video, they dance beautifully and they legitimately won the competition. It is really quite amazing.

This is very inspirational, especially if we have never seen anyone dance or understand what parts are missing. Most of us in our prime couldn’t do one tenth of what this dance couple has accomplished.

So, let’s celebrate what we do have, inspite of limitations, and make the best of it, just like this dance team. Move more, dance more, sing more, play more, smile more and have fun with the passion and love this dance team has displayed, inspite of their limitations.

This amazing performance has a lesson for all of us — to persevere through physical or other perceived limitations, to reach our goal of life.

Age wrinkles the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Never ever give up enthusiasm.