In March 2020, concurrent with the Covid pandemic I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and discovered I was a BRCA 2 gene mutation carrier, making me susceptible to breast and ovarian cancers. By great good fortune the cancer was discovered at an early stage and was pronounced ‘treatable’. After surgeries in the US I returned to live in Wales intuiting that my best healing would happen in the Welsh nature.
I share an essay I wrote about my experience called ‘Revelations of Life as a Dance Improviser’ which is due for publication through Bennington College, USA. I also include a talk which I gave at the annual conference of the Cancer Charity Yes to Life in September 2022. The talk is called ‘Learning to Trust’ and references my own experiences through my dance practices and cancer journey.
My current interest as a result of going through a life-threatening health issue, is how embodied practices offer us a ground from which to face and negotiate life’s challenges. I am specifically interested in how they can build resilience in the face of the greatest challenge the human race has ever faced with the climate crisis.
I am now offering Movement for Health sessions specifically for people who are experiencing health issues, and am available to give public talks.