WHEELCHAIR-bound dancers will show the able-bodied a thing or two about taking the floor when they go into their routine in Bolton's Albert Halls.
The Kaleidoscope Wheelchair Dancers are doing an exhibition spot during a tea dance which has been organised as part of a Fun Week of Sport and Leisure for the over 50s.
Age Concern and local Leisure Services are putting on the week, from June 28 until July 4.
The dance, in the Festival Hall, is one of two ticket events during the week and the Kaleidoscope team are preparing their colourful outfits - and repairing their special dance team wheelchairs - for their performance.
Sylvia Higginbottom of Radcliffe, said the team got together in 1984 after meeting up at Bolton's Jubilee Centre; they formed Kaleidoscope and went through their routines at Kearsley Leisure Centre before moving practise sessions to Radcliffe High School.
Her husband, Brian, broke his back and has been confined to a chair for 17 years; Sylvia suffered a stroke after beginning with Kaleidoscope as an able-bodied dancer and now uses her wheelchair much of the time. She said: "I have always loved dancing."
Wheelchair-bound dancers and able-bodied perform together a formidable programme of waltzes, sambas, quicksteps, formation items and barn dances.
The team use every inch of available space for their performances and have given many outdoor exhibitions, the only drawbacks to these, said Sylvia, being "dog muck and glass".
Two of the team members are Lorraine Hartley, a 45-year-old who chose dancing over swimming some years ago, and her mum, Joan, 72, who is able-bodied. They live in Harwood.
Lorraine, who has been confined to a wheelchair since she had polio at five, said: "I enjoyed swimming but didn't have the stamina for that and dancing, so chose dancing."
Members are quickly taught how to make a wicked turn on the dance floor and become very adept at handling their chairs.
The sport and leisure fun week has been planned to include very many free events, from Tai Chi at Hayward Leisure Centre at 10.30 on the opening Saturday, through aerobics, short mat bowling, swimming, golf, rambling, dry skiing, weight training, table tennis, dance and orienteering through to tennis at Haslam Park on the closing Friday.
The only other ticket event is a performance by Bolton Youth Choir at St Paul's, Deansgate, on Thursday evening, July 3.
On the Town Hall square on Tuesday, July 1, a marquee will be set up to provide a centre for advice and information and there will be line dancing, craft demonstrations, fencing and basketball from the Bolton Bulls team.
For more information contact Kerstine Hogg, Sport Development, Bolton 522311, extension 4065, or Teresa Forrest, Age Concern, Bolton 382411.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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