Overcoming Great Physical & Mental Handicaps For Your Salsa Dance

In the many years of dancing Salsa I have had the privilege of meeting several special people who have gone through great lengths and overcame great physical and mental barriers in order to achieve their ultimate goal: to become a good Salsa dancer.

In 1999 I had a Salsa dance partner who was suffering from Bechterew's Disease (Ankylosing Spondylitis): the lower joints of her spine were fusing together causing her heavy pains and a progressing rigidity in her lower back. She had the misfortune of being born with a disease which mostly affects men. But, she persevered and found great relief when she decided to take Salsa dance classes and visit Salsa parties. Her Salsa hip movements kept her active in a very pleasant manner and her sickness slowed down considerably. But, she also had to have daily massages and heat to keep on Salsa dancing.

Another great example is a Salsa dance performer & choreographer who has performed on the biggest Salsa dance podiums worldwide. He has a “Leg Prosthesis”, which is also called an Artificial Leg or a “Pegleg”. He chooses not to tell anyone in the Salsa scene about his handicap because he does not want people to pity him. His goal has always been to become one of the best Salsa dancers and choreographers of the world. No one notices  his disability when he's dancing or performing. The good news is that he is a top choreographer working in several countries.

Enjoy the following clip of the One Legged George Velasques and partner dancing Latin Rumba and Salsa.

A Salsa friend of mine lost one of his arms. I met him at a Salsa party where he challenged me to dance with his girlfriend and to do as many Salsa dance moves as I could in order for him to learn some new ways of leading her with one hand. This was no problem for me as I was used to limit myself with a glass of wine in one hand whilst dancing (fast) Salsa. He was very thankful and I still see him dancing  those Salsa moves I showed him years ago.

Breaking Psychological and Cultural Barriers
Nearly all physical impediments are being ignored for Salsa dancing. You can read more about this theme in the article “Dancing Salsa with Parkinson's Disease” . There are also a growing number of people who break cultural barriers such as religions & ideologies in order for them to dance Salsa together with “non-believers”. In “The Psychology Behind Modern Salsa Dance” you can read about some basic psychological aspects of Salsa. Single mothers or married mothers having a career whilst taking care of their children have to sacrifice a lot to follow Salsa classes and go to Salsa parties (pay for baby sitter, etc). Many Salsa dancers who are considered to be to small, too tall, too large or too petite are enjoying Salsa dancing right at this very moment.

Warning: You have to tell your Salsa dance instructor about your physical and mental handicaps BEFORE you decide to join the Salsa course!