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Caroline CAN Dance

Dancing. It is a major portion of my life. I took ballet as a young child "to keep from bumping into walls" according to my mother. When my daughter went to ballet classes for the first time, the teacher asked me if I would like to join the adult morning class one day a week. I danced ballet for fourteen years as an adult with my sport podiatrist working to keep me on my feet with orthotics and a special handmade insert I actually sport taped to my foot every time I wanted to dance. Slowly, the doctor began to take parts of the dance class away until finally he told me he could give me one more year of ballet or ten of ballroom dancing. That was eight years ago.

Since moving to ballroom, the RA damage has taken both my wrists, and 7 finger joints [4 which have been repaired]. I finally had the Morton's Neuroma removed from my right foot after ten years of pain.

Despite RA pain, ballroom dancing allows me to move freely and I feel like I am flying when I dance. The balance a partner gives me, allows me to move much better than I could move on my own. I have found over the years that time has strengthened my legs and ankles. A good dance frame reminds me to stand up straight with my head held high. That hurts a bit but imagine what I would look like if I didn't make the effort. The dancing gives me that all important exercise which strengthens bone mass, lung capacity and general good overall feeling of well being. I am hoping to dance past that ten year point on into the future. It may not be at the level or skill I have now, but that will be all right. Put on the music -- here I come.

Caroline Marold
Page last updated on October 29, 2000