Courage of principal of Burnley's Encore Dance Studio was inspiration for students' showcase
Their teacher’s courage and resilience was the inspiration for a moving performance by a group of young Burnley dancers.
The performance team from Encore Dance Studio dedicated their set piece at the Sheffield Can You Dance? regional convention to raising awareness of endometriosis, a condition their principal Amy Williams, was first diagnosed with as a teenager.
Sharing the platform with performers from across the UK, this performance was the first time some of the dancers from Burnley had taken to such a large stage in front of an audience of hundreds of people.
Amy took over Encore in July last year and since then it has moved to its own building where it hosts two studios for dancers.
Frequently in hospital, Amy was only diagnosed with endomestriosis when she contracted sepsis and was confined to a wheelchair.
Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb (uterus) grows outside of it, typically on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic lining. This misplaced tissue responds to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, causing chronic inflammation, pain, and scar tissue. A diagnosis can take some time due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions. There is no cure but a variety of treatments exist to manage pain and symptoms.
Forced to give up her place at a performing arts school, Amy has never given up on her dance career. Indeed, she changed direction and gained her Royal Academy of Dance teaching qualifications, which she is still adding to. She also studies acrobatic arts. While still suffering with her illness, Amy has two teachers who step into her dance shoes when needed.
Spreading awareness of the condition, that affects around 1.5M women in the UK, is vitally imporant to Amy who was absolutely delighted to see her students perform at the convention, focused on her own personal journey.