Zoe’s determination to dance gets one step closer

May 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Relying on childhood memories and sharing experiences of being visually impaired is the basis of one dancer’s end of year peformance at Coventry University.

Zoe Coles, a mature student studying dance, has not let her lack of visibility stop her from pursuing her dream of becoming a professional dancer and on Monday 16 May, she will be performing her piece ‘Captivating’ at the Ellen Terry Building.

The performance is a thought-provoking and inspiring piece which draws on Zoe’s own life experiences of being at university and gives the audience the chance to witness how dance can overcome disability.

Zoe has choreographed the piece herself and will be performing it with Hannah Graham-Martin and Nicci Ashton. However, there will be one person missing from the performance and that is Zoe’s guide dog, Hamlet.

Zoe said:

“For the night of the performance, I have had to let Hamlet stay with friends or he’d want to join me on stage and he would certainly steal the show!”

Zoe has been dancing for as long as she can remember and has not let her visual impairment get in the way:

“Obviously, it does make a difference as I am not able to see others,” said Zoe, “but my disability has been useful in showing dancers who are not visually impaired how I learn, create and choreograph moves for them. The piece I have created is a contemporary work and through movement, it tells my journey through my life so far. It is also about learning through touch.”

The long-term aim is for Zoe to become a professional dancer. She’s already had experience working with other disabled dancers as she took part in a dance transformation programme in Birmingham earlier this year.

Zoe concluded:

“My aim is to make dance inclusive and not exclusive and to show other people with a visual impairment that anything is possible.”

‘Captivating’ takes place on Monday 16 May at 6pm in room 221 of the Ellen Terry Building. The performance will last approximately one hour and tickets are priced at £3  or (£2 concessions) and available from the Ellen Terry reception or on the door on the night of the performance.

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For further information, contact Ali Bushnell, External Press and Media Relations Officer on 024 7688 8245

Note to editors:

The CSAD 2011 Degree Show dates are as follows:

9th May to 4th June – Performing Arts festival – Spectrum (various sites)
4th – 8th June Degree Show (open to public) – various locations within the University
12th June – Fashion Show (tbc)

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The External Communications team from Coventry University promotes a wide range of initiatives, services, success stories and other related aspects of Higher Education and the achievements of its staff and students as well as comment pieces from experts.