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My secret to developng as a dancer when I have two left feet is simple - I have my own, unique style.

My mother decided at an early age to get me some ballet lessons. I was a good swimmer and as such had the shoulders of a young ox. Now, nothing against oxen here but shoulders of a strong cow-like beast on a young girl's shoulders? Not a pretty sight.
Anyhow, my Mum, in her wisdom enrolled me in ballet classes. I had to get the bus across town but it was decided it was worth it if it ensured I could recapture some of the grace and style - like that my very girly sister posessed (I noticed my Mum did not enrol her in ballet classes).

Anyhow, a short time later and I was in a performace in front or parents - the group were fairies but I was a frog - the only frog- and my role consisted of 'croaking' with my feet splayed (in what I now know is second position), while the 'fairies' prettily pranced around me. I had originally been a fairy too (as the dance was called 'dance of the fairies') but the teacher decided that in my case, no way could I even pretend to be a delicate nymph so the piece was changed to include a frog (me!).

Although this was done with immense kindness and thought for my feelings, I got the message and knew any dreams I held of being a ballerina were doomed.

Over the years, I managed to live with the knowledge that dance was not my thing. To be hoest I andmy two left feet were glad of the fact, especially when one of my friends, whose aim was to dance with the Royal Ballet would not even sit down because it used less calories than standing. Several attempts in shows (I was an amateur operatic singer!) were made to include me in balletic dances but more often than not I and my two left feet were sidelined and I had to play second fiddle to some nimble, gangly but very graceful tart!
I even had to sing my songs standing still and on one occassion was told ' DO NOT MOVE!' when everyone danced round me! It seems chorographers had to decide whether my voice was good enough to make changing the dances worth while and luckily usually it was but on several occasions I remember being hidden away at the back of the back of the back row where my tripping feet could not be seen.

During a production of Iolanthe, I had to open the curtain as one of a pair of young fairies. The curtains opened then onto a scene of snoozing nymphs and nymphettes in a fairy scene. I howver managed rehearsals fine but fell on opening night! For the rest of the show only one fairy

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