The dance club helping disabled young people spin towards their dreams

One of those taking to the dancefloor is ten-year old, Inga Figurska. She has dreams of winning Strictly Come Dancing one day. Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) when she was 20 months old, Inga needs to move around in a wheelchair – but that doesn’t stop her desire to spin, twirl and glide.

Moving from Poland to South Wales, her passion for dance soon shone through. Twirling in her chair at home, her parents decided to enrol her in dance classes. 

But they discovered that most classes didn’t cater for children with disabilities. After a series of disappointments, they stumbled upon Impetus Dance. Now Inga’s passion for dance is unstoppable, and with every turn and glide across the floor, she’s proving that nothing is out of reach.

And National Lottery funding for her dancing wheelchair is giving Inga the opportunity to dance.

Funding for specialist sport wheelchairs

Dancing in your everyday wheelchair is difficult. Big and heavy, they are slow to manoeuvre and tricky to turn. They limit dance movements and can quickly make the dancer feel very tired.

That is why the club needed specialist sport wheelchairs from the National Lottery. Now, young people can dance to their hearts content.

“We are so grateful for National Lottery funding. Dance sport chairs are really expensive, costing around £1000 for just one. Your support allows children like Inga to pursue their dance passions and to be active,” Louise Bowman, founder of Impetus Dance Group

National Lottery Funding has helped:

• Provide new dance sport wheelchairs.
• Create a positive environment for disabled people.
• Aspiring young people like Inga to take their dancing to the next level.
• Build a thriving and supportive community.

Creating a supportive community

Inga and her parents, Tomasz and Malaorzata, have become part of a close-knit community. Not only does Impetus nurture Inga’s love of dance but it supports the entire family, giving them a sense of belonging as they settle into their new life in Wales.

“The National Lottery funding from Sport Wales makes a big difference to Inga. Dancing brings her joy and a smile to her face. Despite the problems she has with her disability, she is passionate and motivated to dance.” Tomasz Figurski, Dad to Inga.

Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £30 million is raised every week for good causes, like Impetus Dance Company. So, if you have played the National Lottery in the past 30 years, you’ve helped young people like Inga live their dancing dreams.

If you’ve got a project that could support disabled girls like Inga reach for the stars, then you could be supported by the Be Active Wales Fund.

Video Description

The video starts with Inga, on the left and her teacher on the right, both in dance sport wheelchairs in a sports hall.

Inga and her teacher glide backwards, rolling one should back be followed by the other, before spinning.

The video transitions to Inga by herself in the wheelchair spinning and waving her arm around her head.

The video transitions to the next clip where Inga is by herself opening her arms in a circular motion above her head.

Inga spins three times in a circle and starts moving forward as she moves forward her teacher comes into shot. Whilst gliding forward they both place one arm followed by the other straight in front in a graceful motion.

The video ends.