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Wheelchair dance troupe The Inverclyders under threat – as they’ve run out of partners

The prize-winning wheelchair dance team (Stuart Maxwell / SWNS)
The prize-winning wheelchair dance team (Stuart Maxwell / SWNS)

THEIR dedication to dancing eclipses the efforts of celebrities on Strictly.

Yet very few people have heard of The Inverclyders, an award-winning Scottish dance troupe who compete in wheelchairs.

The UK champions – founded nearly 30 years ago – are one of the country’s most successful dance teams.

However, the future is uncertain – as they have run out of dance partners.

Several long-serving members have retired from the Greenock-based team, placing the body’s future existence under threat.

The remaining four members of the team have put out a plea for people to try out wheelchair dancing.

If they cannot find at least two more members and a new teacher, the team will be unable to compete and they may have to give up.

Clare Stewart and her husband Darryl, 41, fear what the future may hold for them – given wheelchair dancing has become such a huge part of their lives.

Clare said: “We want new people to try out wheel-chair dancing. We want to keep the team going.”

The 41-year-old – who got into wheelchair dancing at school and joined The Inverclyders in 1993 – said there had been no interest yet, but they remained optimistic.

“There might have been people out there who have been able-bodied and enjoyed dancing before they were in a wheelchair,” she added.

“We want them to know that they can still enjoy dancing, it doesn’t have to stop for them.

“You can also meet people with similar experiences.

“This club is very good for people socially.”

And Clare dreams of one day seeing wheelchair dancing featured on one of her favourite TV shows.

She added: “I would really love to see it on Strictly.”


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