Susan Engler: From Hesitation to the Spotlight
- Erin Drake
- May 6
- 2 min read
A story of resilience, rhythm, and rediscovery through Rx Ballroom Dance
This Saturday, May 10th, Susan Engler will step onto the ballroom floor at the Defying Limits Gala—performing in front of a crowd for the very first time.
But her journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary.
Susan was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in her early 50s. Yet her story began long before her diagnosis. Over a decade ago, at her son’s bar mitzvah, she noticed something troubling: she couldn’t keep up with the dancing. Rhythm and movement—things that once came naturally—suddenly felt foreign. Confused and frustrated, she didn’t yet realize that these subtle struggles were the earliest signs of Parkinson’s.
She never considered herself a “good dancer.” In fact, for years, she avoided the spotlight. But everything began to change when she discovered Rx Ballroom Dance.
What started as a therapeutic class transformed into a passion. Susan began dancing weekly with her husband. She built strength, grace, and most importantly—confidence. Dance became more than movement; it became a source of joy, connection, and personal power.
When her 60th birthday came around, Susan didn’t choose a quiet celebration. Instead, she spent the week doing what she never imagined she could again—dancing the nights away.
Through Rx Ballroom Dance, Susan reclaimed her rhythm, her joy, and her voice. “I finally feel like my life is no longer defined by what I can’t do—but by what I CAN,” she shares.
And now, she’s ready to show the world.
Join us at the Defying Limits Gala on May 10th to watch Susan and others perform, share their stories, and inspire a movement that proves healing, hope, and happiness are always within reach.
🎟 Reserve your seat or donate now to support more stories like Susan’s.
Because when we dance—we defy limits.
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