Lillian Dyball looks forward to her dance class all week long.
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Though reliant on a wheelchair and walker to get around, the Albury girl, 6, knows how to bust a move or two.
Lillian’s mum Natalie said her daughter loved music and dance and putting on concerts at home.
“She has always been responsive to music,” Ms Dyball said.
“Through all the phases of apparatus (for her movement), she’s always dancing.”
Lillian was born in Wodonga with a condition called arthrogryposis, which describes congenital joint contractures in two or more areas of the body. In Lillian, it affects all her joints except her jaw and spine.
Ms Dyball said the condition, which was diagnosed when Lillian was about a week old, would not worsen over time and physiotherapy in her formative years had gained more movement.
“We did lots of physio between ages 0 and 4; you maintain all of those improvements as long as you use it,” the Flying Fruit Fly Circus instructor said.
“We are always working on strength and fitness.”
Lillian has been thriving in her classical ballet class at Murray Youth Performing Arts (MYPA) since the start of this term.
Dance teacher Keira Gush leads the primary class, which includes Lillian.
“Are you ready to catch some butterflies? Now run forward and clap,” Miss Keira instructed her keen troupe of three last week.
With the help of MYPA director Libby Ellis and Aspire support walker Laya McPhee, Lillian swapped from her wheelchair to her walker between exercises.
“I love your marching legs!” enthused Miss Keira.
Mrs Ellis said it was not a special needs class, instead the idea was to integrate Lillian into the mainstream dance program.
She said it promoted inclusiveness among dancers in the studio too.
“We want to push that dance and music are for everybody,” she said.
“We are also encouraging an acceptance of differences.
“Dance is a lifelong experience and it’s a good way to build strong, healthy bodies; we are making sure dance is for everybody and not just the very talented.”
Ms Dyball said it was nice to be welcomed in such a nurturing environment.
“Lill looks forward to it all week,’’ she said.
Ms McPhee said the benefits for Lillian were as obvious as the smile on her face.
“She gets heaps out of this; she is included in this community and it’s great for her,” Ms McPhee said.
Afterwards when asked about her favourite part of the dance class, Lillian quickly replied: “Skipping!”
And if that doesn’t put a spring in your step, then nothing will.