Katrien Poppe from the Flemish Brabant municipality of Tervuren is an avid wheelchair dancer. She became Belgian, European and World Champion in the discipline. However, she has been forced to put her hobby on-hold as she has nowhere to practice her passion. "There are no more dance clubs in Flemish Brabant where I can go. I think that's a shame."
Wheelchair dancing world champion from Tervuren looking for somewhere to practice
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Katrien Poppe from Tervuren is Belgian, European and World Champion in wheelchair dancing. "It's a wonderful sport. I dance the English waltz, the jive, the chachacha, you name it and I can dance it", she told VRT Radio 2’s breakfast show ‘Goeiemorgen morgen!’.
"You can do wheelchair dancing alone or with a dance partner." "When I was 18, I suffered a fall during a professional gymnastics competition. Since then, I have been unable to walk. It’s now 43 years later, but I have never let myself get down. I take life with both hands. Everything is possible in a wheelchair”.
Looking for a place to dance
Katrien was forced to put her dance career on hold for a while due to health issues, but now she is raring to go again. However, there is a problem. "There isn’t a club in Flemish Brabant where you can wheelchair dance. That's a shame, because for me being able to dance equates to freedom. I have social contact when I dance. I can relax and really enjoy myself."
Consequently, Katrien is launching an appeal. "I'm looking for a big space and dance partners who want to dance and move with me. That could be a single person or a couple in a wheelchair. It could also be an able-bodied person that wants to dance with us. Everyone is welcome”, Katrien told the VRT.