In a busy city like London, it can be suffocating yet isolating, exciting yet overwhelming. And when one reaches their lowest point, they move, and things simply get better again. This photography series depicts the personal stories of dancers who have overcome challenges in their lives through the medium of dance. The project focuses on subjects related to mental health, identity, and culture.
Adam "Dance saved me! Through adversity and obstacles, I believe that is how we grow as people. As a 5 ft 6 lad who is often the smallest in the room, my journey with dance and my mental health is always changing and evolving.
During my undergraduate auditions, I felt incredibly weak as a dancer. I was really struggling with my body image, feeling very slight and small. In my first year of drama school, I developed an immune disorder related to my blood, which meant I was placed on a medical course of steroids. This caused me to gain weight, especially in my face. It was an incredibly emotional time for me; I could feel my previous demons resurfacing, particularly with my body image and how I looked. Dance is for everyone, regardless of shape or size, but it was the shock of physically changing in such a short period that really knocked me. I was advised to limit my dance and movement as it was putting my health at risk.
When I was eventually given the green light to resume physical activity and return fully to dance, my passion was reignited. I became much healthier, and since my first year at drama school, I have become physically fitter. I have also learned to embrace the obstacles and challenges that may present themselves along the way as part of my personal journey.
I was born with a birth defect in two of my fingers, which means that some of my fingers cannot fully straighten. I've had two surgeries on one of them to correct the defects. If I opt for alternative surgery, I run the risk of losing motion and flexibility in my fingers. To a choreographer, my fingers and lines may not be aesthetically pleasing or ideal. However, my fingers are a part of me—denying that part of myself would mean denying who I am and ignoring the fact that all bodies are different. Dance has helped me learn to love my imperfections, embrace my height, and has given me lifelong friendships.
My love of dance would not have been possible without my incredible dance teachers, past and present, who have inspired me throughout my life and continue to inspire me. I will be forever in their debt for helping me learn to love my imperfections through dance.
I am incredibly grateful to the dancers I have befriended, who constantly inspire me in class or with whom I've had the pleasure of performing. The bonds I’ve formed with these dancers have been incredible, and they serve as my daily reminder that dance is for everyone. Physically moving and dancing truly lifts my mood, keeps me balanced, and helps me stay fit in a fun and mentally rewarding way.
Every person’s body is unique, and dance looks different on each individual. I believe the performing arts and dance industry have a duty of care—especially to young people—to champion diversity and create a healthy, supportive culture where all body types and abilities are celebrated. We should move and dance for the love of it and the pure joy it brings!"