A troupe of physically challenged people performs 'Sufi dance on wheels'
4 Dec 2008, 1757 Hrs

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New Delhi, Dec 4 A troupe of physically challenged people enthralled audiences with their 'Sufi dance on wheels' here on Wednesday.

The artistes came together under the aegis of 'Ability Unlimited' to put up a stellar performance on wheel chairs on the occasion of 'World Disability Day'.

They set aside the stereotype of being pitied upon by the society and turned their disability to their advantage by using the wheels of their wheelchairs to dance away to glory.

The performance was directed and choreographed by world famous Guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha, who also heads Ability Unlimited.

" We had to make special wheelchairs for this performance because the speed with which these wheelchairs were spinning was even greater than Kathak (traditional Indian dance) dancers. It has taken many years' to develop this wheel chair," said Pasha.

The procedure took long hours of practice and hard work by the artistes to put up the spectacular performance.

For the dancers like Hemlata Meena, who enacted the role of Gauhar Khatun in this performance, was an exhilarating experience as she was able to prove her dancing abilities to the world.

"From a very young age I wanted to dance and bring out my hidden talent despite being physically challenged. Through this performance I can tell people that I can dance and act," she said.

The main aim behind putting up this performance was to send out a message to the people that the physically disabled are not to be pitied upon and if they set their hearts on doing something, they can come out with flying colours.

The performance, which left the audience spellbound, got a standing ovation from them. (ANI)