Nine women in Jaipur rolled onto the stage in wheelchairs during Astitva 2025, stunning a crowd of over 350 and marking a powerful moment of visibility and joy—thanks to Priya Sharma’s inspiring journey that began with her own spinal cord injury.
- Priya Sharma became paraplegic after a 2018 accident and rebuilt her life through dance.
- Dance With Wheels began in 2024 to create space for women with disabilities to perform.
- Astitva 2025 featured nine wheelchair dancers to a large, supportive audience.
What happened
On a winter evening in Jaipur in 2025, nine women with disabilities rolled out onto a stage before an audience of more than 350 people. Each performer used a wheelchair, yet their movements spoke louder than words, delivering an emotional performance that celebrated resilience and self-expression. This event, named Astitva 2025, meaning existence or identity, was the culmination of months of preparation and courage for the women involved.
Behind this inspiring event is Priya Sharma, a woman whose own life was transformed by a spinal cord injury following a road accident in 2018. Her personal experience with paraplegia and the challenges that followed motivated her to support others facing similar circumstances. In 2024, she founded Dance With Wheels, an initiative aimed at connecting women with disabilities through dance, creating opportunities for visibility and community.
Why it feels good
For Priya, dance offered more than just movement; it became a source of joy and a way to reclaim identity after her accident. Her breakthrough moment came during her sister’s wedding in 2019, when she dared to join the celebration by dancing in her wheelchair. This simple act of self-expression brought profound happiness and planted the seed for her future work with other disabled women.
The event Astitva 2025 allowed these women to be seen and celebrated on their own terms, breaking social barriers and challenging preconceptions around disability. It reinforced empowerment through creative expression, demonstrating how inclusive platforms can transform feelings of isolation and fear into confidence and community belonging.
What to enjoy or watch next
Dance With Wheels started modestly with a few participants practicing online due to travel challenges, but it has grown into a meaningful movement. Those inspired by Priya’s story and the performances from Astitva 2025 can follow the group’s journey to see how dance is opening doors for women with disabilities across regions.
The evolving project offers a hopeful glimpse into how adaptive arts can help dismantle social stigma while promoting joy and connection. Future showcases and expanding participation promise to further spotlight the talents and stories of disabled performers who continue to shape a more inclusive cultural landscape.