Why Dance?
A new personal project exploring why people dance and what it means to them...
Max, dancer
I've been dancing for about 20 years. I started with lots of different classes and now I dance every week with Parable Dance in Brighton. Dance is fun and exciting and it makes me happy and feel good - it helps me keep my chin up! I like learning new moves. Ballet is quite new to me but I think it is my favourite now. I feel free. I let go. I’ve danced with National Youth Ballet All In! and performed in Romeo and Juliet at the Dance Space in Brighton and at Sadlers Wells. When they asked me to teach part of the inclusive class at NYB, I said "No Way", but dance helped me be brave and I did it!
ZACH Opere Onguende,
Ndombolo dancer
When I was younger, I felt defined by my cerebral palsy, but when I dance, people don't see my disability; they see me and what I can offer. Dance was a hobby that was imposed on me to start with - I was made to do it at school but it became a pathway to a bigger vision for my future. People no longer look at me with pity in their faces. When they see me dance, they're like "this guy is actually good and knows how to captivate an audience". Dance is like a language that breaks barriers. Before I had many insecurities, like everyone does. Now I have the confidence to speak out not just for myself, but also for others. It's easy for people to give up a seat on a train for someone with a disability like mine, but now I'm like... I want more. I want a seat at the table where real decisions are made, and that's what I'm advocating for others with disabilities and SEN. Dance has given me the confidence to get out there and show the world who I am.