About Me

My Story

I was a gifted ballet dancer, whose promising career came to an end after I suffered a serious back injury, by slipping down the stairs at the Opera House in Munich.

At the time, I thought I would recover, but as the years passed I realised that I was never going to fulfil my potential. My back problems were continually restricting my technique and freedom to move. I was in constant pain and slowly had to come to terms with the fact that I was not going to fulfil my dreams of sharing my great love of dancing all over the world.

With my performing career over, I taught for many years at The London Studio Centre, The Arts Educational School and Tring Park School and have had many students go on to brilliant careers. Sadly, as my back continued to deteriorate, I was forced to eventually retire from teaching as well.

I turned my attention to my subsequent life passions – meditation and natural healing. Since childhood, I had always been fascinated by the power of the mind over the body and had meditated from an early age, often being told off for daydreaming, when what I was really doing, was exploring life from the inside out! I had a vivid and creative imagination and used this awareness, not only to push myself technically and physically as a young dancer, but in later years as a tool for managing my pain, as well as a creative and powerful aspect of my recovery.

It was time to practise what I believed in. I trained to become a Mindfulness practitioner, opened a clinic in London and spent many years working with people from all walks of life – supporting them through illness, stress and injury.

I have a great understanding of the pressures and stresses faced by performing artists and they became a major part of my practice.

Eventually, I was invited to go on tour with a major rock star, working as the tour therapist and this was the beginning of many worldwide adventures, as well as a new chapter in my career.

My back problems took a turn for the worse when I lifted a heavy weight and found myself unable to move my leg and in excruciating pain – simply to breathe was agony and my mind was the only place where I could still move freely. Those were some of the darkest days of my life and in an effort to distract myself from pain, I would spend hours listening to music and dancing in my head. I could dance ballets that I had performed in, as well as just about every dance style imaginable! This freed me temporarily from my pain prison and was a great distraction from the frustration of being unable to move, sit or walk more than a gentle shuffle.

It was a daily challenge to practise what I believed in, but it was also an opportunity to prove to myself, and others, that we can have a huge influence over our body’s ability to heal by engaging the right mindset – it was a slow process.

One day, having danced all three acts and every role of Swan Lake in my head from my bed, I made a promise that if I could ever dance again, I would dance around the world and raise money for spinal care and other needy causes.

A few years later, whilst on a trip to Riga, I found myself following uplifting, cheerful music that led me into the Old Town, where the annual May celebrations were taking place. It was a beautiful sight – brightly coloured costumes, singers, musicians and dancers filled the square with an overwhelmingly joyful event. As the dancers started to pull people into their circles, I found myself skipping, twirling and dancing and having an absolutely wonderful time – the great bubble of dance that lives inside me had been freed after a long time and I was so happy.

Eventually, exhausted, I had to peel myself away and on the walk back to my hotel I remembered the promise that I had made to life from my bed, when I could hardly move – that if I could ever dance again, I would dance around the world and raise money for charity. I realised that I had a promise to keep and set about working out how I could do it!

So, this is my challenge and I invite you to join me – dance a mile or simply share a mile if the distance is too great – dance whatever style of dancing makes you happy!

Please join me.