Sherice Bethel has been dancing in her living room since she was a little girl; in recent years she has taken her dance skills to the next level with Ormao Dance Company. Bethel has cerebral palsy on her left side, but she never let her disability get in the way of her dancing dreams.
“I just keep going, keep trying, and I don’t doubt myself,” Bethel said of her strategy for success. “I have ambition to show people what I’m made of and that is more than a disability.”
Dancer Sherice Bethel
(photo by Zaira Aleman, ZA Photo)
Bethel is an active member of Include Unique Self Advocates (Include USA), a group that promotes inclusion in the Pikes Peak Region. Include USA is an outlet for Bethel to inspire other people with and without disabilities to help set goals and keep striving when faced with challenges. She uses dancing to encourage others to live active lifestyles.
“I’m inspired by Misty Copeland: a ballet dancer who is now one of the best in the world. I think people can look up to me in the same way. I never let anyone tell me I can’t,” Bethel said.
She draws inspiration from her instructors, friends and family. When Bethel was young, her grandmother, Dorthea Miller instilled in her the value of persistence and trying new things. Since 2011, Bethel has taken courses in belly dancing, pole dancing, and ballet.
“My next type of dance to try is hip-hop,” Bethel said. Her favorite singer Alliah has plenty of hip-hop hits to dance to. “My techniques change depending on the music.”
Bethel’s techniques stem from her formal dance training as well as her years of freestyle. She says she is not limited by cerebral palsy; it just gives her more chances to prove herself.
“I can do different moves with my body that no one ever thought I could,” Bethel said. “I can be an inspiration to younger people who want to try something but think they can’t.”
Bethel wants to thank her friends, family and instructors for helping her reach her goals. For more information on Include USA, visit https://www.thearcppr.org/include-usa/ or call Hannah at 719-471-4800 x.103. To learn about opportunities with Ormao Dance Company, visit their website http://ormaodance.org/.
Article written by Hannah Widmer, Education Advocate and Include USA member
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