This Young Man Lost One Leg And Became A Dance Teacher

“I saw that God is strong. I saw that I was not handicapped. I am just like everyone else. That is what gave me courage again.”Show more

His name is Kouame Kouadio Jean-Noel, he is a 30-year-old from Abidjan, the Ivory Coast. He started dancing when he was 15 years old. He decided to take up dancing because he was in love with it. When he was six years old, he went to Adjame to pay his grandmother a visit. There he met a woman who asked him to accompany her to the market. While they were waiting for the bus, she suddenly let go of his hand and started running away, When he ran after her, a bus hit him. This is how he lost his leg. At that time he was too young to feel much discomfort for his situation and in fact, he did not care. He just felt the same as other people who still had both feet. At first, it was not easy for him to get close to people, but after he got used to the adjustments, he was that life is beautiful.

Noe Kouame teaches the locals how to dance.

“I feel really good. Especially when I am on stage. I am aware If you really want to dance, if you are scared or ashamed, come to me. I will get rid of your shame. Just dance because dancing is life.”

Kouame sends a word of advice to all people, disabled or not: “Life is beautiful, it is so sweet, it is us who complicate it. Stop stealing and begging. Get up, fight tomorrow will be okay.”