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Anyone can dance

Anyone can dance

This week, blogger Bernie Hunter shares her experiences of learning to dance, the adventures it has taken her on, and what happened next.

Dance was a big part of my teenage years – not many people know this so let me take you into my dance world. In this blog, I will give you an insight into my performance days including sharing my experiences of rehearsals and shows.

Bernie dancing in the theatre royal

In 2009, I came across a music and dance workshop that was taking place at a local theatre. It was during the summer holidays so I was up for trying something new even although I hadn’t danced before. The group was called ‘Make Music Move’ (now M3) involving professional dancers and musicians from the organisation Paragon Music. Paragon, is a music charity that helps people with additional support needs to create music and dance. They teamed up with a wonderful choreographer, Caroline Bowditch as well as another dance company to create M3.

Everyone was welcomed into the workshop, it was very inclusive- the group didn’t see disability and as a teenager, that really helped me.

I watched how the dancers worked with the participants and that was when I realised that this was something special. After a couple of sessions, I started to take a real interest in dance. I attended M3 as a participant dancer for 5 years- I had many opportunities handed to me on a plate that I will always be thankful for.

M3 ran regularly with rehearsals happening throughout the year plus intensive weeks every so often, this was when we were creating a piece. We had a number of performances to do as part of dance shows in theatres. This is where the opportunities came in – I got to perform in the Theatre Royal, Glasgow…what a feeling and I also travelled to Dundee Rep Theatre annually too. That doesn’t happen to people like me and I don’t mean because of my disability, just in general.

My theatre memories will always be a big part of my dance days, the experience is just phenomenal. A real mix of feelings when you are out on that stage of excitement but lots of nerves too. One memory that comes to mind is when I was doing a solo dance and an hour before the show in Dundee, I found out that not only that I was the first member of M3 on stage but I was opening the WHOLE dance show…total fear waiting side of stage but such a joy to do.

Talking of my solo dance piece, I actually created it myself in my living room. I went into rehearsals the next day and told my dancers that I made a dance…they couldn’t believe it and I was so thankful that it made the stage. I was told by Caroline that I could go down the dance route as a future and that meant so much to me.

I never thought that I would be a dancer due to having Cerebral Palsy with my movements and being in a wheelchair but anything is possible.

The professional dancers were very good with me, we worked together and came up with moves that I could do in my chair. A couple of years into my dance journey, I decided that I wanted to come out of my wheelchair to dance duets…it was the best decision ever. I could do so much more…it was freedom. My fellow M3 participants followed me and at one point, everyone was dancing out of their chairs!

As I got older and life got busier, I had to leave M3. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend all the rehearsals. Although that this was the case, I helped Paragon Music run M3’s social media accounts which then leaded to me being a volunteer with Paragon- I am the charity’s Digital Development Assistant now.

Bernie & Caroline Bowditch dancingI would like to give a big shout-out and thanks to Paragon’s creative director, Ninian Perry and former dance artist in Association with Paragon, Caroline Bowditch for supporting me through my dance journey- I really learnt a lot from two of the nicest people ever. All of the dancers and musicians were like a big family and I am so lucky that I still keep in touch with friends from M3- I will always be grateful for my dance days.

Mini Q&A

Favourite Memory – Performing in the Kings Theatre Royal to ‘Let music make you move, set your feelings free’

Most Pressured Show – Leading a dance piece at Macrobert Art Centre, Stirling. 8 beats!! If I counted it wrong then it would have affected our whole piece

Do I miss dancing? – Yeah, I do and I would go back if there was an opportunity

Favourite Venue – Kings Theatre Royal

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