Mar 18, 2007 10:11 am US/Central
Disabled And Able-Bodied Dance For Oak Park Troupe
Dancers Say Working Together Rewarding And Easier Than You Might Think
by Jim Mullen
OAK PARK (CBS) ―
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Kris Lenzo lifts Anita Fillmore as they dance a tango at the Momenta dance company in Oak Park
CBS
Dance is an art for everyone, including people with disabilities. CBS 2 Disabilities Reporter Jim Mullen found an Oak Park troupe where dancers of all abilities make beautiful music together.
It's poetry in motion. Kris Lenzo and Anita Fillmore dance a unique version of the tango together at the Momenta dance company in Oak Park. Lenzo lost both his legs many years ago in an accident, but as he says, "Everyone can dance."
The Momenta troupe has dancers who are able-bodied, like Fillmore, and dancers with disabilities, like Lenzo.
"You can create a dance with abled and disabled dancers. People see the flow and relationship of them working together," said Momenta's Larry Ippel.
All the dancers we talked to say achieving that "flow" is easier than you might think.
"Once you start partnering, you know, just try to be safe and communicate with each other and figure out what everybody can do, and wants to do and is willing to do," Lenzo said.
Fillmore said it's rewarding work. "Dancing with Kris has expanded my abilities as a dancer. He's able to make me fly and slide all over and whip me around. Those are things I can't do on my own," she said.
Momenta has dancers of all ages. Wendy and Vicky Raymond are sisters who love to dance. Vicky has cerebral palsy.
"It's very freeing. It's helped me with my body awareness, too, because I have to watch where all the dancers are and it really motivates me to be the best that I can be," Vicky Raymond said.
Emma Norman had one concern when she started: "Trying to control the speed (of her wheelchair) and not run into people."
Her dance partner Tommy Schimmel said, "Nobody knew, 'Oh, am I going to hurt her if I push her or lift her? But now that we kind of know each other, it's a lot easier and Emma can run over me if she wants to."
Audiences give Momenta rave reviews.
"Instead of saying 'I see this handicap' or 'I see someone walking with a walker,' they don't see that," said Ippel. "When they see the dance, that's what they see."
Momenta is performing Sunday night at 7 p.m. at 605 Lake St. in Oak Park. They can be reached at (708) 848-2329.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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