At this year’s Perth Para DanceSport Competition, the rhythm, the lights, the intensity before the music began all clicked into place when Gosnells’ Danielle Stitfall entered the dancefloor.
The competition for Danielle was a milestone that showed years of groundwork, not just her own, but from a wider community that has steadily built momentum.
She and her partner, James Bardill, had been dancing together for just a year. That afternoon, they claimed top honours in both the Combi Standard and Combi Latin categories; a double victory that left her full.
“It felt incredible, and it was a huge honour,” she said. “To me, it meant what I’ve been doing behind the scenes; the training, the preparation, not only physically pushing myself in the studio and at the gym, but also investing in my mental discipline, was working.”
It wasn’t just the titles that mattered. It was the journey they’d taken to get there, together.
“In para dancesport the term ‘Combi’ means partnered wheelchair dancing,” she explained. “To share these titles with my dance partner after only one year reminded me that our combined passion and commitment to push through challenges, to form the strong connection we have on the dance floor, makes a powerful statement about how working hard really does pay off.”
If the wins were a high point, the day itself was something else entirely. A celebration and a movement.
“The atmosphere in the room, from everyone present, was electric,” she said. “It didn’t just feel like another competition. It was more of a celebration of inclusion, art, unity and joy.”
Danielle spoke about how far para dancesport has come. She’s seen it grow from a hopeful idea into a living, moving community.
“What stood out the most was the sense that we as a group – para dancers, coaches, families and supporters – are a part of dancing history. Being at the Perth Para Dancesport Competition felt like the work we’ve been doing for the past seven years in building para dancesport in Perth and Australia is the foundation for something so much bigger than ourselves.”
The event came just weeks after she returned from Hong Kong, where she and James had debuted internationally as a couple, and danced into the semi-finals.
“Competing in Hong Kong was my third time dancing internationally, but by far the most exhilarating,” she said. “The atmosphere, the standard of dancing, and that incredible sense of community, but on a global scale, made it truly unforgettable.”
It was also the first time Danielle performed solo at an international event, something she describes as a huge personal milestone. “To be able to showcase my artistry and strength on that stage was empowering,” she said. “It challenged me like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, creatively and emotionally.”
The trip was made possible with help from the City of Gosnells, which awarded Danielle a competition sponsorship grant. It’s support like that, she said, that keeps para dance alive.
“As Para Dance is not yet a paralympic sport, we are required to self-fund the majority of our expenses. Fundraising and community grants have been integral in keeping Para Dance alive in Australia.”
Danielle’s introduction to the sport was almost accidental. In 2017, she was playing wheelchair basketball when Rebound WA was approached by DanceSport WA to explore if wheelchair dancing could work. She went along to a “come and try” session, and never looked back.
“I attended and immediately caught the dancing bug.”
It surprised her at first. Dance had always seemed like something for other people…expressive, extroverted, out of reach.
“Wheelchair dancing was not something I would have ever imagined would be a good match for me,” she said. “It’s such an extroverted activity, but I am so passionate about it; it has changed my life for the better, and my self-confidence has skyrocketed.”
“I may be in a wheelchair, but when I’m out on the dancefloor, my physical limitations fade into the background. No longer do I need to keep on the sidelines and watch as others live and breathe dance. Now I have the space to express myself, too. I am an equal, and I can take up room unapologetically.”
The changes in her life extend far beyond the studio. Dance, she said, has helped her grow as a person.
“Dancing brings me out of my shell and gives me a lot of self-confidence, especially performing in front of a lot of people. It has helped me with my life skills, my independence, social skills, relationships and my fitness.”
The paradancer is preparing for the Australian DanceSport Championships in Melbourne this December, where she plans to return to the floor, ready to give it everything she’s got. Danielle’s also working on new solo routines that tell her own story, her way.
“There’s so much I’m looking forward to. I want to keep evolving, growing my skills, exploring new concepts, and keep pushing the boundaries of what I can express through movement.”
And as she continues building momentum toward international competition in 2026, Danielle is focused not just on medals, but on visibility. She wants others to see what para dance makes possible.
“Beyond that I hope to continue representing Australia in more international competitions, while also helping to raise the profile of para dance right here at home,” she said.
