MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wheel Dance Awarded Collaborative Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant

Open House and Grant Recognition Event on December 7, 2014 in York Region 

Toronto, ON – Wheel Dance and Victoria Ballet Company are pleased to announce that they are using the three-year, $271,200 grant they received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation earlier this year to establish a wheelchair ballroom dance program in York Region. Wheel Dance’s unique program provides subsidized social and competitive wheelchair ballroom and Latin dance classes to wheelchair users and their able-bodied friends, family and community members, on the premises of Victoria Ballet Company’s newly renovated accessible studio space.

“It’s wonderful to see inclusion programming get such recognition and funding in York Region. I look forward to attending the community celebration with everyone.” - Gila Martow, MPP for Thornhill.

With the grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Wheel Dance and Victoria Ballet Company are forging ahead with this first-of-its-kind collaboration in Canada. Capital funds from the grant have been used to transform Victoria Ballet Company’s studio into a fully accessible dance facility. Wheel Dance is using the grant programming funds to run classes on site since October 1st, 2014 and invites the media and public to attend its upcoming Open House and OTF Grant Recognition Event on December 7th, 2014 from 4:30-6:30 pm at 7 Bradwick Drive in Vaughan. We invite everyone to support and celebrate our success, as our dancers demonstrate their progress, speak about their experiences over the past two months, and share their goals. Special guests include MPP Gila Martow, OTF Representative Ms. Wendy Dunlop, Councillor Sandra Racco, and Paralympic Athlete Mr. Joel Dembe.

“This initiative helps remove the physical, social and economic barriers that prevent wheelchair users from participating in community life, thereby increasing accessibility, engagement, and inclusiveness,” says Dr. Iris Kulbatski, Director of Wheel Dance. “By promoting and celebrating diversity in sport, art, and cultural activities, we are providing a positive example of how art and sport can build communities and affect positive social change. By making recreational and competitive dance accessible and inclusive, we are improving the physical and psychosocial well-being of our community.” 

Details related to the upcoming Open House/OTF Recognition Event, as well as information about Wheel Dance’s social wheelchair ballroom dance and competitive Canadian Wheelchair DanceSport activities are available by visiting Wheel Dance’s website and Facebook page.

Contact: Dr. Iris  Kulbatski
Executive Director, Wheel Dance
Tel:  647-297-3198
Email: wheeldance@outlook.com