Taiwan's wheelchair athletes find love on the dance floor

Around 50 wheelchair dancers across Taiwan meet regularly to exercise and socialise

Last updated: December 01, 2019 | 11:05

AFP and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Producer

2 MIN READ

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Ivy Huang (L) and Vincent Kuo (R) are part of the island's last generation of polio survivors and have spent years perfecting their dance routines.

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The couple have been practising for months after work for the impending competition in Bonn, where they will join 230 athletes from 26 countries in the sport's marquee event.

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Wheelchair dance instructor Lydia Chang (R) demonstrating a move during a wheelchair dancer practice session at the Community Centre in New Taipei City.

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Wheelchair dancer Vincent Kuo (C) taking part in practice session at the Community Centre in New Taipei City.

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Wheelchair dancers Ivy Huang (L) and Vincent Kuo (R) posing as they attend a charity event in Taipei.

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Around 50 wheelchair dancers across Taiwan meet regularly to exercise and socialise, and dance partners are non-disabled volunteers who either perform standing up - a style known as 'Combi' - or also using a wheelchair, called 'Duo'.

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Taiwanese athletes Vincent Kuo and Ivy Huang each discovered an electric talent for wheelchair dancing on their own -- but it was when they were paired up together that the sparks really flew

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Wheelchair dancers performing at a charity event in Taipe.

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Their dance partners are non-disabled volunteers who either perform standing up - a style known as 'Combi' - or also using a wheelchair, called 'Duo'.

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Huang and Kuo, who can walk with the help of crutches but use wheelchairs for dancing, attended these meetings for more than a decade before they started performing together and eventually fell in love.

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Wheelchair dancers Ivy Huang (R) and Vincent Kuo (front L) with members of the Taiwan Wheelchair Dance Sport Association training for a performance at the Community Centre in New Taipei City

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Wheelchair dancers queueing up to perform at a charity event in Taipei.

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