The last two Saturdays Birgit Skarstein (31) impressed both the viewers and the judges with his movements on the floor in «Shall we dance». Together with dance partner Philip Raabe (20), she has proven that sitting in a wheelchair is not an obstacle to dancing joy or creativity, something she has also been praised for by the experts.
Still, it is still difficult to go through a comment field without more people throwing their lips. Comments that she should not participate or that she should rather participate in a competition where everyone is in a wheelchair are commonplace.
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Skarstein himself has stated to, among others, Dagbladet that she sweeps away the criticism, and with her participation will show that it is entirely possible to excel on the floor in her situation. Now dance partner Raabe has found himself forced to do the same.
In a column for Aftenposten he now goes hard on those who would think that a wheelchair should be an obstacle to dance performance.
Danced with rib injury
– Really angry
“I’m the luckiest person in the world to dance with Birgit. We are a really good team. That’s why I get a little sad when people judge Birgit as a person, without knowing her. I do not think it is right that they judge her as a dancer before she has even tried. I actually get really angry, because I think it’s so unfair “, the 20-year-old writes in the post.
The article is published under the newspaper’s “Si; D” column, where 13- to 21-year-olds can air their opinions. He thus exactly meets the requirement with his 20 years. More than ten years separate him and Skarstein, but that has had no effect on chemistry.
From the first moment, it was clear that the duo would work well together, and it is obvious that he is proud to dance with the sports hero.
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“I’m extra motivated to show them what she can do. I am inspired to work harder, to demonstrate to everyone what we can do and give everything so that every dance will be a party to watch. And for more people to dare to try “, writes the 20-year-old.
He explains that he has learned a lot from dancing with a partner in a wheelchair, and that it was by no means the way he envisioned it. The limitations he thought existed have instead become possibilities.
Will avoid contagion disaster
Raabe wished he had learned this when he was still an active professional dancer. He must have quit because he was bored, but now the joy of dancing has returned.
“Dance is for everyone. It does not matter if you are blind, have one leg, are short or long. Dancing is not ankles, arms or eyes. Dance is what you interpret it to yourself, what you feel. It is actually the only thing that matters “, he writes in the article.
In the first program, the dance duo went to the top in terms of points, and they did not deliver badly last Saturday either. The latter ended with a stunt where Skarstein hung in two lines with fabric from the ceiling – of course to huge applause from the audience.
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Transparency
As mentioned, Skarstein has previously spoken to Dagbladet about the criticism and incitement she has received.
– Of course we have to do things a little differently and maybe practice a little harder, but I just look at it as an advantage. I will work as hard as I can to be able to deliver, and get good help from Philip for that. This is the first time he does this too, so we both learn while we work, she said just before the premiere.
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