Bed-ridden Patient to Ballroom Dancer
This lymphedema patient competed in a ballroom dance competition... and WON. Karen Goeller participated at NYC Ball competition held at the Sheraton in NYC on May 12, 2012.
Lymphedema is swelling of the leg due to the lymph nodes being removed during cancer surgery. It cannot be cured, only maintained.
The NYC Ball is a ballroom dance competition for children and adults run by World Promotions. People traveled from far distances to compete including couples from as far away as Arizona.
There were several categories including Standard (International), Smooth (American), and Latin. Smooth and standard include waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, Viennese waltz, and tango. International style is considered more advanced. Karen Goeller competed in Standard, International Silver I and II. She competed in 10 dances total and was awarded 1st place for eight of them. Karen Goeller won the waltz, Viennese waltz, tango, and quickstep. She received 2nd place for her two foxtrots, her least favorite dance. She shared, "My favorite dance is the quickstep. It's fast, technical, and requires alot of legs. Next is a toss-up between the waltz and tango"
While she danced, Karen was in good hands, literally. Her partner, Eduard Izotov, is already a professional dance champion. Goeller states, "I had confidence going in that I would do well because Eduard is so experienced. I knew he would help me look great on the dance floor."
Eduard Izotov was ranked one of the top dancers in Russia. Besides being a professional dancer, choreographer, and judge, Mr. Izotov is highly educated with two Master's Degrees, teaching and psychology. His list of achievements seems endless and includes many 1st place awards at world competitions. He was also on the Russian version of "Dancing with the Stars and he won.
Karen and Eduard competed in Pro-Am, meaning a professional with an amateur. The Pro-Am is most often an instructor with their student, similar to what you see on the popular TV show, Dancing with the Stars.
Karen Goeller has been involved in ballet and gymnastics since she was a child, but had problems with her spine. Learning to move again was no easy task. She is a well-known author and coach who was once told that she would be bed-ridden for the rest of her life. That was just before major cancer surgery. Her most recent book is about her life ever since her cancer surgery. As a result of the surgery Goeller suffers from lymphedema in her leg. To train and compete in an activity such as this is really no small feat for Goeller. She shared, "Since my spine is still damaged from an accident and my leg still swells from lymphedema, I was not sure ballroom dance would work for me. I tried a group class 2 ½ years ago and was hooked. I am doing so much more than I ever imagined... I really love ballroom dance"
Karen is planning to compete in more competitions in the future. To read more about Karen Goeller visit Click here. Karen Goeller can be reached for interviews, book signings, and speaking engagements at 888-496-8749. To read more about Eduard Izotov and the dance studio Ballroom Dream visit Click here.
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