A Perth dancer is leading the charge for her sport to be included in the next Paralympics to be held on home turf.
Danielle Stitfall was born with spina bifida and has found her passion and calling in ballroom dancing, regularly competing within a category of para dance for individuals with a physical impairment affecting the lower limbs.
The 39-year-old said the sport was physically demanding and she often spent up to 12 hours a week practising.
“It’s punishing on your body, I feel it in my arms, my core and my shoulders,” she said.
And while the wheelchair dance sport is practised across 30 countries today, it is yet to make it to one of the most prestigious levels of para sports competition.
Stitfall, a Gosnells local, said it would be a “dream come true” to compete at Olympic level in Australia and she would love to mark her dance card in Brisbane, in 2032.
“It’s the pinnacle of sport, isn’t it?” she said.
“There’s many levels to it but Paralympics is definitely at the top of that level of sportsmanship.”
WA para dancers are also behind the mission to make para dancing an official Olympic Para sport by the time Australia welcomes the Brisbane Olympics.
Ballroom Fit founder Darryl Davenport — also Stitfall’s former dance partner — said his organisation ran weekly classes across Perth of up to 300 people, a number that had steadily grown over recent years.
Ballroom Fit — a registered NDIS organisation — specialises in dance for people of intellectual, sensory or physical disability.
“I think there was a lack of opportunities for people with disabilities to be able to access the arts and music,” he said.
“I think there’s quite a few organisations that are providing sports but I don’t think there was much on the creative side.
While World Para Sport applied to have the sport included in the 2024 Paris Paralympic games and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games, the proposal was shot down due to “international administration” issues, which Davenport says have now been resolved.
“I do think this is a long time coming,” he said.
“I know that we’ve got breakdancing this year in the Paris Games and of course we’ve got the ice dancing.
“I believe that para dance is a lovely mix between ballroom and ice dancing, because the wheelchairs glide similar to an ice skater.”
Both Stitfall and Davenport are behind a Dance Sport Olympics coming to the Shirley Strickland Pavilion in Ardross on June 2.
Stitfall said the event was open to dancers with all disabilities to learn more about the competitive sport.
“This event, the Dance Sport Special Olympics, allows people to appreciate the joy of dance,” she said.
Ballroom Fit operates across Booragoon, Bassendean, East Victoria Park, Cannington, Manning and Belmont.
Dancers have until May 12 to register for the Ardross event.