When Beverly Weurding, 84, who attended UConn in the 1950s, was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy in 1993, she thought her days on the dance floor had come to an end. But then she took some aquatic classes at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in San Diego. “I could be out of my wheelchair in the pool and I would dance,” she says. The instructor took note and recommended she start a wheelchair dancing organization. “They said the hospital would sponsor me and do the public relations, but I would need to find a dance instructor willing to get certified in teaching wheelchair dance.”

Weurding did just that, and the first eight-week ballroom dance offering was a huge success. Since then, Wheelchair Dancers has added many other classes, such as Bollywood and hip-hop, to the repertoire. “We adapt every move to being in a wheelchair. The wheels are part of the dancing.”

Weurding has had students of all ages — the youngest was 4 years old and dances to this day — which inspired her to take a six-week program into area schools. “There have been people who have changed so much through the class,” says Weurding. “It’s the communication, it’s the social component. It creates friendships, physical activity, a place where we come together and support each other. It’s beautiful. Dancing is beautiful.”