Camilla Dallerup becomes patron of Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (UK)

Posted on April 11, 2013

Camilla Dallerup, former professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, is to become patron of the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (UK) (WDSA (UK)), a charity and governing body for wheelchair dance and wheelchair dancesport in the UK.

Camilla (pictured above), who joins patrons sports and exercise medicine consultant Dr Richard Weiler, Gary Avis of the Royal Ballet, bodybuilder Marina Pusic, the British Dance Council and dance promoter Philip Wylie, said: “I’m so excited to become an ambassador for this wonderful charity and I can’t wait to get involved. Dancing has given me such joy in my life and it is amazing not just for fitness but also to build self-confidence. I’m hoping that we will learn from each other and in the process create some interesting dances.”

The WDSA (UK) formed to promote and develop wheelchair dancing as a sport and leisure activity across the UK and to raise the standard of coaching and competition, as well as to offer those who would otherwise be excluded from dancing the chance to be involved from grassroots all the way up to top competitive levels.

Sue Cummings, chair of WDSA (UK), added: “We’re absolutely thrilled that Camilla is representing us this way. She is a great advocate for everything we do and stand for and for raising the WDSA (UK) profile and getting the word out to the disability community across the UK. Her patronage of the association will add tremendously to its ability to make a difference to the lives of disabled people.”

With Camilla on board the WDSA (UK) looks forward to sharing her experience and skills as, over the next few years, the association develops, grows and runs its first official UK Wheelchair Dance Sport International Paralympic Committee competition.

For more information on the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (UK), email media@wdsauk.co.uk, visit the website www.wdsauk.co.uk or call the WDSA (UK) team on 0300 111 30 45.

Photograph: Kevin Sacre

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.