No excuses: "Dance, Ruzanna!" - an interview with three-time world champion in Wheelchair Dance

All will pass

- Hi, Ruzanna! I am pleased to welcome you to Layfhakere.

- Hi, Nastya! Thank you for your interest in me.

- The first question is traditional. Tell us about your childhood.

- I was born in Perm, but in eight months, I have taken to the father's home in Armenia, get acquainted with their relatives. And we lived: a year here, a year there. I grew up in two cultures, she studied in the Armenian and Russian school, I know two languages.

- You are a child involved in dance?

- Yes, the popular Armenian. She danced in the ensemble, which later became world-famous. When I left Armenia and did not return, the guys were very sorry, looking for me.

- Why do not you come back?

- In the 11 years I was ill: literally within 15 minutes I was completely paralyzed for the time lost, even speech.

- What?

- It's hard to tell what really happened. At first, doctors have just sent home with the words: "Do not worry, everything will go." Then he remembered that before this I had been ill with the flu, and looked through the encyclopedia said that it is a complication of a viral infection.

Only many years later, when new technologies have emerged in medicine, and most importantly, found a competent doctor, it turned out that the cause of the paralysis in the other and it could have been avoided. This doctor did not rewrite the diagnosis of the paper in the paper, decided to investigate the situation and sent me on an MRI. It turned out that I have a vascular disease that affected the nerve cells of the spinal cord.

- You were not even sent to rehab?

- More or less I was able to recover only by the parents, their enthusiasm. Year I was lying at home, they made me physical therapy, forced to move, be active. If they do not, I do not know what would have happened to me.

- And how you learned?

- At home. They came to me teacher of the school. In parallel with studies in the high school I graduated from art school. I am an artist painting on wood and metal.

Man to man ...

- Ruzanna that in a monstrous story you took with a ramp and neighbors?

- I live on the first floor and decided to make a separate exit from the apartment through a balcony. The fact is that even a man hard to raise me with the stroller on the stairs at the entrance, not to mention my mother. Made the project, agreed it with the necessary authorities, but, as soon as construction began, there were two neighbors, which my lifting platform stood the throat.

- What did she stop them, because it does not touch their property?

- They make ridiculous arguments: visor lifting platform will spoil the view from the window of his thieves would climb in their apartments, and so on. Ravings of a madman!

- I read that the situation took control of the governor of the Perm region. Is the problem persists until now?

- The governor took control, instructed to deal one of his ministers, he pulled the disposal even lower. And these officials fawn pensioner, putting their interests above my own. Now it is the fourth project is rewritten, and every time the neighbor are, what more carp. But the most offensive, that they do not conceal their schadenfreude.

- I.e?

- With representatives of the authorities they build themselves as victims. They say that they are too old and disabled people. And me in the face saying: "Wore your mother up the stairs, and then let the bears. It will be the way we want to. "

Talk to them about what is discrimination, it is useless. Why would I ask somebody for permission to freely escape from his apartment? Why do they show me how I have to live?

These inadequate people I have not met. Although there was everyone: a finger shows up and turned around after, and spoke words, after a month I did not go anywhere.

- What words?

- I was about 20, we were walking with a friend, passed by some old ladies. They saw me and cackled: "Oh, my child, it is better to die than to live like this! How are you on the street, then left - shame, then what! "

I'm in tears, once home to a month did not go anywhere.

- Ruzanna, you're just a very soft and vulnerable man ...

- Was that. I steeled sport. It was he who gave me the inner core, which is now helping with neighbors to fight and do not give in to difficulties.

Dance Ruzanna!

- You are a multiple champion of Russia, three-time world champion, three-time at Wheelchair Dance Sport World Cup winner. How did your path to the podium?

- I came to the club for people with disabilities. At first there with us just engaged in adaptive physical education: the music was playing, we did the exercises. Then he learned that there is a sport - dancing in wheelchairs.

- And it's a sport?

- Yes. Athletes are divided into two categories depending on the degree of limitation of physical abilities. In the second act more physically strong guys, the first - the less powerful, like me.

Couples fall into Combi - a healthy partner and wheelchair - and duets, when both partners with disabilities.

- A program is also divided into the Latin American and European?

- Right. Latina includes samba, cha-cha, rumba, pasodoble and jive. Classical program - a waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow foxtrot and quickstep.

- What do you like most about the dance?

- By temperament I always prefer the Latin American program. :)

- And yet how is your dance career started?

- Ksenia Giniatullin girl from our group of adaptive physical education, to go with a partner on the dance competition, after which our leaders decided to collect an ensemble.

So in 2000 in Perm there was a dance troupe "grotesque." At first, nobody knew us, had to ask for it on the show. Performed by 30-kilogram bulky wheelchair. We sewed a costume. Held many competitions, training courses - always wanted to go, but needed money. We are looking for sponsors.

- Do you remember your first outing to the floor?

- It's unforgettable! We danced to the young colony. Very nervous, still confused, but as we said then, the guys really enjoyed it.

- A first international presentation remember?

- Not! :) I traveled around the world. Well I only remember the first World Cup in the Netherlands. The excitement was tremendous. Then we have with Alexis had no competitors in our category, we were competing against stronger boys.

- You have all the time in a pair of Alexey Fotini, never changed partner?

- Never. Although we are different, for example, he likes the European program. Quarreled, they parted, but still came back and overcame all together.

- Have you ever felt ashamed on the floor?

- Oh yeah! When I fell straight into the competition. We had just started, I was still very weak. We are the leaders said: "Try to do sharp turns clear." I tried so hard, it flew back, only sparkling heels.

Ran a judge lifted.

I have tears welling, and I signals: "Dance, Ruzanna!"

Dotantsevala ...

- A moment of absolute happiness were?

- When became the absolute champion of the world, that is, the program won both competitions in Belarus. I then had some serious health problems: each movement with the pain, through tears, fever. In the hymn he broke down time - burst into tears. I could not believe that overcame myself that I could.

- There is a phrase: "Dance - to assert." With his dance you argue?

- To act with dignity, you need to work hard. After all, the dance must dance, despite the presence of wheelchairs. Everything has to be musical, harmonious, beautiful. Otherwise it will just figured riding. So every time we come up with new elements and images that complicate the program constantly train. And every time he went to the floor, I demonstrate to themselves and others: if you work, to shed blood, sweat and tears - everything is possible.

- Where do you get motivated?

- My pinatelyami and pushers have always been parents. Sometimes you get up in the morning, the weather is terrible, do not want to go anywhere, do anything. Mom says, "You go on training to stir up!" And the truth is, you begin to deal with - from some forces are taken, the body wakes up.

- You still have to Alexei nevzyatye tops dancing?

- Not. We Alexey won everything they wanted, and are considered the most titled athlete in the world in its category. There is something to be proud of! :) We decided to translate dances of the discharge into the category of sports hobbies. We will sometimes be performing with an ensemble, for myself, for the soul.

- Get out at the "retirement"?

- You could say that. :)

First, over the years, lost passion, no previous fuse, and the viewer is always felt. Secondly, there were a strong young guys who come to us on the heels. We're not in that form. In the last competition, we even had to give up the Latin American program: not strong enough. Thirdly, we have with Alexis shifted priorities in life. For him, the main thing now - it's great, but for me - the family.

Be myself

- August 30, 2015 you married. How did you meet her husband?

- In the Internet. Anton saw me, flipped photos interested and wrote me. I did not answer. Two months later, he wrote again. Then I reacted - communication ensued, then I invited him to speak. We started dating.

- Between you had no prejudices about the fact that you're in a wheelchair, but he's healthy?

- Meeting with the girl with the features, the man takes on more responsibility. Not everyone is capable of it.

Anton initially worried as it did not blurt out something extra that may offend, how to behave to avoid discomfort. One of the first visits almost dropped me - terribly scared! :) But all this passed quickly.

- What do you suggest to girls and boys with disabilities who are embarrassed to start a relationship?

- Unfortunately, there are many. You just need to be myself. You should not hide the fact that you're in a wheelchair. One has to see what you are, and to understand what goes on, when met. You must be open and sociable. If you're interested in with each other on a carriage you will soon forget the two.

- You have a husband at the wedding was a beautiful first dance?

- Surprisingly, no. :) We had a wedding, it is very important to us. And then we went on nature, where especially not dance.

- Ruzanna, what do you dream about?

- give birth to healthy Lyalka. :)

- Who are you waiting for?

- Not yet known. Husband wants a girl, and all my life I wanted a boy. But now all the same, if only everything was good.

- Wish for something readers Layfhakera last.

- Find the target. If you know what you strive for, then all will achieve. Remember that life goes on, always and in spite of everything. How to painful and difficult it is, we can not give up.

- Beautiful words! Thanks for the interview, Ruzanna!

- Thank you! :)