In 2009, when Danish Wounded Soldiers began returning home with missing limbs and other such life altering injuries, worrying reports were highlighted within the media, concerning lack of rehabilitation efforts. The Royal Danish Ballet Foundation initiated a voluntary project to help these wounded warriors.
2 Ballet Dancers/Pilates Instructors jumped on board to use their skills as movement speci
alists - and so began “The Wounded Warrior Project.”
An affiliation with Rigshospital was established and 2 double amputees began working with the Dancers on a weekly basis. 2 years on – the dancers have volunteered over 1,500 hours of their time and have contributed to the rehabilitation of 9 soldiers. In order to give these men the very best rehab opportunities within the Pilates community, the Dancers sought international guidance from leading Pilates experts in Pilates for Polytrauma patients. World renowned Elizabth Larkam MS Ed, was flown to Denmark to hold a Workshop at Rigshospital where wounded soldiers, doctors, surgeons, physio’s, dancers and military personnel gathered under the same roof for perhaps the first time in history. Following the workshop, Finn Warberg (Army Surgeon and Chief of Rigshospitalet Orthopedic Surgery Trauma Unit) went on to say:
“It is not every week you feel your life brought to a higher level, but the work of the dancing Pilates instructors with our "wounded warriors" and the workshop indeed made things swing, opening eyes and showing new ways ahead"
Elizabeth became the Dancers mentor and took them under her wing for a specialized education in the Summer of 2011 where they had the unique opportunity of teaming up with the Physiotherapist/Pilates Instructor Michael Podlenski PTA, ATC, in San Diego at the US Naval Medical Center, C5 unit. (Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care division.) The trip to the States gave the Dancers/Instructors invaluable information to help their education in this very special field of rehabilitation. To see one of the world’s leading military hospitals, using these complimenting methods of rehab together; (Pilates/regular rehab) and consequently giving these men the very best chance of returning to their everyday lives- was like seeing their own dream become a reality. The international network had officially begun and the Dancers were now corresponding with both American experts on a regular basis concerning their Danish Wounded Warriors – which strengthened the knowledge team in many ways. The improvement of these men has surpassed even the dancer’s expectations. None of the 9 soldiers are longer dependent on wheel chairs and are no longer reliant of care takers, friends or family. New careeropportunities have opened up, as they are more able and new visions/goals are opening up before their very eyes. The D.W.W.P has over its 2 year journey, created a demand that they now have difficulties in meeting without adding more resource. The project was initiated by 3 people on a 100% voluntary basis and has now with more than 2,000 hours invested in the project by the originators grown to a become an International team of 20. What began as Dancers reaching out to help wounded warriors – has escalated to great heights and over time has created a demand, based on results. The Dancers now want to strive to meet these demands by being able to provide more resources for the patients that are asking for this training. The D.W.W.P therefore envision Sponsorship based Funding to enable these Soldiers/Polytrauma Pilates Patients the access to this specialized training, the space to provide it and the Instructors/International experts to teach
