Kate Stanforth

🪩 Kate 🪩 I can't quite believe there is 40k of you here now! I'm just doing a little update on my page to pin, it's rather professional and I had to delete the slide where I just named all my favourite snacks 😆 Can't thank you enough for all the support 🥹 ❤️ #DisabledDancer #WheelchairDancer #LondonDancer #NewcastleDancer #Chronicillness

♿️ A day in the life of my travel ♿️ I hesitated posting this because the last thing I want to do is put disabled people off travelling. It is something which *can* go smoothly and with the right people, organisations and attitude is amazing! However, my carer was one of the people who suggested I started vlogging again. This is a short clip of *ONE DAY* of access issues. The bus was a full drama, the broken lift to my train platform made my heart sink and I’m not even home yet so I’m anxious until the moment I get to bed. There were some hero’s today. The guy from Northern rail who helped us get through the service areas and keep the train so we didn’t miss our connection thanks to the broken lift. I had some really nice passengers after the bus situation check I was ok. And obviously, big up to my PA today who helped me deal with all of this and still go about my work for the day. Access is a right, not a privilege ❤️ #WheelchairUser #Disabled #DisabledTravel #BabeWithAMobilityAid #ChronicIllness #OutOfOrder #LiftOutOfOrder #Equality #Access

Spreading my wings 🪽 Dance residency at @dance_city_newcastle day 1 of 5. If you’re new to dance, this creative summer residency is where I get free studio space and also some production support. Today I had a meeting with @moving_art_management , @myadaptability (who provide me with my beautiful Omeo) and spent a lot of time with the wings. They were handmade by a U.K. artist for this project (paid) but it’s taken me the full day to get used to them on the Omeo as they completely change your movement/balance - but lots of potential! I’m now on my way to Manchester to chat on @bbcbreakfast tomorrow morning, then will be back in the studio with some amazing artists during the week. I’ll keep you updated! (I’ll have a daily vlog on my tiktok but will repost on my stories too!) Thanks for all the support - overwhelmed right now! I’ve got a full on week but will be replying when things quieten down ❤️ #SwanLake #WheelchairDancer #WheelchairBallerina #DisabledDancer #Omeo #MyAdaptability #Dance #ChronicIllness #BBCNews

🎉 6 Years Ago Today 🎉 On this day, 6 years ago, My True Story launched. @channel4 gave me a set of video cameras to capture my life during lockdown (which was one heck of a ride being extremely vulnerable…) and a short documentary was made about my love of dance. I streamed some inclusive dance sessions each week to help people keep moving and chatting because isolating was tough. And little did I know that we’d be here today with a worldwide non-profit with over 500 members and collaborating with some of the leading dance companies. To everyone who supported our dance community and continues to - thank you. This is a dream. And long may it continue 🌟 My True Story by @channel4 @channel4documentaries - cut for social media (there’s a much longer version!) #DisabledDancer #WheelchairDancer #WheelchairBallerina #Ballet #ChronicIllness

🌟 Star Wars Day 🌟 A day which holds a special place in my heart ❤️ Not every day you get to be part of the magic… and the Force 🐭 ✨ There’s space for everyone in this galaxy ♿️🌌 x #StarWarsDay #MayThe4th #Disabled #ChronicIllness #BabeWithAMobilityAid

🩰 Coming Soon 🩰 I've been watching through some of our footage from @royalballetschool sessions which make me so excited for our next class in June! Is there anything you'd like to us adapt or behind the scenes of the day? In this video, I lead a workshop on turns (we did pirouettes and pose's) focusing on the musicality of the traditional preparation of a chase pas de bourre. We started off by just learning how to place our hands on the ideal part of the rims in a count 1&a2 and developed to opening of the arms. Through the day, we had disabled dancers turning for the first time (?!) and also ambulatory wheelchair users having a safe space to try on their feet. We swapped chairs to allow those who didn't have as lightweight/sport wheelchairs to have a go using good equipment and had enough people to spot if needed. And, we also did floor barre, barre, centre work and rep. What a day ⭐ Our session in June sold out in a few minutes, which shows how valuable and in demand these professional level classes are. If you're looking for more opportunities with us, in May we have: - A collaboration with @nationalyouthballet_ofgb - Musical theatre and inclusive dance online with @sophia.adzoa.moore and @dancingwithm.e - We are also busy booking another pro online session for you all ⭐ (You can book on our website ) Thank you to everyone who is supporting this project, we still have big dreams for it and are thrilled at it's impact so far. Big thanks especially to @royalballetschool @alliedmobility @m.k.moves @kaasam_aziz @maddison.araceli @izzyswheelieworld @therachaelhunt @lily_hawes_ @shonalouise_photography and my ever growing team who help make dreams happen for so many ⭐ A reminder a lot of these opportunities are FREE and the rest are low-cost, with all being accessible. #InclusiveBallet #AccessibleDance #BalletDancer #Ballerina #WheelchairDancer

March/April - Mainly ducks 🦆 Now we are heading into May (where has this year gone?!) it marks two months from my major relapse. At the beginning, I was really poorly and back to not being able to lift my head off the pillow again which was a scary time. It ended up in a number of emergency hospital stays and I’m currently trying to re-learn how to do basic tasks again. We’ve still got quite a long way to go but things thankfully are looking much brighter. One of the most enjoyable things now is I’m able to get my carer to take me on a drive most days to go watch the ducks from the car with a cuppa 🦆 So far we’ve seen: - A seal (if you’re local, the seal comes down the river Tyne!) 🦭 - Jumping salmon 🐟 - Squirrels 🐿️ - Baby rabbits, including a resident one in my garden 🐰 - And, of course, the ducks. 🦆 What a JOY is to live in @northumberlandnationalpark and if you haven’t, do come visit @visitnorthumberland 🌲 x #Northumberland #ChronicIllness #Hexham #DisabledDancer #WheelchairLife

🪩 International Dance Day 🪩 This is Lucy, one of my long-term students. Lucy has performed with @nationalyouthballet_ofgb online and danced in workshops with @royalballetschool , @mbnewadventures and more - pretty good going! Lucy *loves* to dance and is a non-verbal wheelchair user. She attends multiple sessions a week (whether it’s online or in-person) and is always the best laugh, alongside the support of her mum @joal7241 who is the most incredible carer. Jo very kindly sent me this video of Lucy practising ballet at home and I have never felt so proud of her. The video is a project I did a few years back of recorded inclusive dance content with Makaton in collaboration with @flamingo_chicks and it’s still a favourite. I really wanted to highlight Lucy today on International Dance Day because her dedication to dance and to adapting dance, especially ballet (we’ve had her on the floor, unstrapped in her wheelchair, on a hoist - everything 🤭) is like nothing I’ve ever seen. I learn so much every time I’m with her and her family, so thank you for improving my practise. A special shout out on international dance day to those thinking outside the box and championing inclusive practice - for moments like this 🌟 X #DisabledDancer #InternationalDanceDay #WheelchairDancer #InclusivePractise #Ballet

🪽’I’ll get the wings out’ 🪽 It’s been six weeks off dancing but today I had some unexpected energy return. I looked at Lisa (my PA) and straight away she knew what I had planned… ‘I’ll get the wings’ 🪽 One dance to one song in the street (it was even raining - that isn’t static on the camera 🤭) brought me so much joy. And reminded me that whilst my health is fragile I don’t have to be on a stage to enjoy the arts, I can enjoy it from my doorstep. Here’s a lil dance, with rain, wind and Kate freedom! Ft @myadaptability Omeo (PR Loan) and my wings #DisabledDancer #ChronicIllness #ClareDeLune #ClassicalMusic #WheelchairDancer

🪩 When lyrics speak - @raye 🪩 Art bringing us together ❤️ Who’d like to see our in-person dancers give this a go too? Raye, we love this! Here’s a lil snippet of some of the things we do at our dance academy - connecting people all around the world through movement 🪩 From beginners to professionals, we got you ❤️ Academy: @katestanforthdance Choreographer: Our amazing disabled talent @maetaverner Long Term Sponsors: @alliedmobility (AD / Donations) K x #Raye #DisabledDancer #Dance #ChronicIllness #WheelchairDance

🪩 100 Reasons to Dance 🪩 We’re creating something special… a T-shirt built by the dance community ❤️ On the back - 100 real reasons people dance. Maybe you dance because… 🪩 it’s your freedom 🪩 it connects you to others 🪩 it helps you express yourself 🪩 it’s your culture 🪩 it just feels good Now we want your reason 👇 Post in our comments (or DM if you’d rather): “I dance because…” Your words could be featured on our limited edition community t-shirt 👕 SUPER EXCITING TIMES Photo: @kappa (AD) ft @loopwheels wheels (Gifted/AD) #100ReasonsToDance #DanceCommunity #InclusiveDance #Fundraising #Dance

🎭 World Theatre Day 🎭 For World Theatre Day, I’d love to widen my knowledge (forever learning) around theatre access both on and off stage 🎭 Access in theatre matters on both sides, whether you’re stepping into an audition room or sitting in the audience. So, what would you add, or change? I’m all ears 👂 X #WorldTheatreDay #AccessibleTheatre #DisabledPerformer #DisabledDancer #WestEnd