What inspired you to start breakdancing?
In 1985, breakdancing really took off in Germany where I grew up. Everyone was dancing in the streets
and my cousin took me to places where people did breakdancing. I felt the energy in the music and started
trying go imitate the tricks they were doing. Then my cousin brought me a video, Breakin', that had
a guy dancing on crutches and that inspired me to get off the floor and develop my dance style on crutches.
Was it hard to start dancing with crutches?
I don't think of it as challenging: it's like learning to walk with your legs. I had to learn to walk and
dance with my crutches and my dance style is a reflection of how I get around day to day. I just happen to fit in
some acrobatic tricks (including balancing upside-down).
Describe your training for Varekai?
Because we do so many shows during the week, I can feel a lot of pressure on my shoulders and I have to compensate,
so I use my wheelchair after a performance to give my arms a break. I do a lot of muscle training and I try to maintain
my weight by doing cardio on my chair. I love riding free - it's like a skateboard for me... so much freedom.
If you weren't a performer, what would you be doing now?
I never expected that I would be a performer on stage. I was dancing for fun and to prove to myself that I can do what
everyone else can. I have a lot of energy so I'd probably be doing some other crazy things.
What's the biggest challenge of living with polio?
The fact that people don't know much about disability and tend to pity you or look at you as an object in a wheelchair
- like we're not human. But most disabled people can do everything that normal people can do. I would love people to be
more educated about disability, in particular about the way we express ourselves. I'm not a bigt talker; I express myself
through my body language.
Varekai is on at the Gran Chapiteau, 1 Airport Dr, Brisbane Airport, until Dec 10 from $29, ph:1300 130 300.
| 
