Andrea
Testoni photojournalism
Mark
is an Australian-born ballet dancer. He knew he would be a dancer since he
was a child and he worked really hard in order to pursue his artistic goals.
After performing with the Australian Ballet Company he joined the State Theatre
Ballet Company in South Africa. Unfortunately, in 1997, still working in South
Africa, a drunk driver collided with the car in which he was a passenger and
as a result he is paralysed from the chest down. Marc now uses a wheelchair
and is very thankful to have survived.
Joining
CandoCo was really important to Marc. He said that after the initial shock
of his extraordinary change in circumstances, he became more determined to
follow his goals. He has worked hard to build his willpower and physical strength,
"my legs may not move as before but I still love the feeling of movement
and expression to create a masterpiece of dance".
In
July 2003 Marc joined the CandoCo Dance Group, a company which develops a dance
style suitable for non-disabled participants and those with physical and/or
sensory disabilities. CandoCo are best known as the UK's leading lightin integrated
dance for disabled and non-disabled.
Living
with this ability
Marc
wants to break the traditional perception of what a dancer is and show that
dancing, choreographing and teaching at a professional level can be achieved
with a disability (such as using a wheelchair). For him "disability might
diminish opportunity, but not talent".
