Dancer in wheelchair

浙江台州市仙居县文元横溪中学 江 丽

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难词探意

1.troupe/truːp/n.剧团；戏班子

2.obstacle/'ɒbstəkl/n.障碍

3.spinal/'spaɪnl/adj.脊柱的

4.variety/və'raɪəti/n.多样；多样化

5.attain/ə'teɪn/v.达到；实现；获得

A pioneering dancetroupeis proving that you can chase your dreams—even in a wheelchair.

Since the age of three,Chelsie Hill had dreamed of becoming a dancer.That ambition nearly ended one night in a car accident in 2010.Hill,a 17-year-old high school senior student,was paralyzed from the waist down.For most people,that would have dashed any hope of a dancing career.ForHill,itwasthe beginning.Far from being anobstacle,her wheelchair encouraged her.“I want to prove to my community—and to myself—that I am still‘normal’,” she said.

Normal for her meant dancing,so Hill did it in her wheelchair rightalongside her nondisabled high school dance team.Half of her body was taken away from her,and she had to move it with hands.It definitely took a lot of learning and patience.

After graduation,Hill wanted to expand her dance network to include women like her.She met people online who had suffered variousspinalcord injuriesand shared herdetermination,and she invited them to dance with her. “It was such an amazing experience.”Hoping to reach more people in a larger city,Hill moved to Los Angeles in 2014 and formed a team of dancers with disabilities called the Rollettes.

Dancing on wheels,the Rollettes discovered,can be just as fast-paced,artful,and fulfilling as the foot-basedvariety.They can also enjoy themselves through dancing.Hill hasattainedher childhood dream which is impossible for most of us to realize.But the Rollettes have helped her find something else just as fulfilling.Every yearshe holds a dance camp for wheelchair users of all ages and abilities to help them find their dancing potential.She calls it the Rollettes Experience,and in 2019,173 participants from ten countries attended.

For many,it was the first time they'd felt they belonged.Steph Aiello said that working with Hill challenged her to be more independent.“My injury doesn't stop so I can live my life,so why am I going to stop living my life because of my injury?”she said.

Edna Serrano said that being part of the Rollettes team gave her the courage.“I didn't know I could do so many things that these girls have taught me,” she said. “I didn't know I could be sexy.It's so powerful to have my teammatesin my life,becausethey're my teachers.I have more confidence.”

Reading Check

1.Hill was paralyzed because of _______.

A.a car accident B.a serious illness

C.a fall from her bike D.a fight with her classmates

2.Which of the following can be used to describe Hill?

A.Ambitious. B.Careful. C.Patient. D.Generous.

3.Why did Hill move to Los Angeles?

A.To treat her legs. B.To meet more people.

C.To hold a dancing ball. D.To learn some dancing skills.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

For many,it was the first time they'd felt they belonged.对于很多人来说，这是她们第一次找到归属感。

【信息提取】It was the first time that sb+had（been）done...意为“那是某人第一次做某事”。

【句式仿写】那是我第一次骑马。