Meet Lizzie – Liberate Dancer and Move Momentum Admin & Marketing Officer
Lizzie is 27 years old and has Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, and has been a wheelchair user all her life – and she was one of Move Momentum’s very first Liberate dancers, when we launched in September 2019.
Exclusively wheelchair-based, Liberate Dance offers online classes and studio sessions in Winchester’s Winnall district – for adults, and through a newly launched Youth class for 7-13 year-olds.
Lizzie says,
“Liberate Dance has changed so much about how I think of myself. I have always struggled with my anxiety and knowing where I ‘fit in’; but being part of Liberate Dance has meant that I do not feel like that anymore!”
Lizzie explains that although she’s always been aware of her disabilities, not being with disabled people on a day-to-day basis had meant that she saw herself as more ableist than she was and set herself higher expectations than she should have done, and that were unachievable.
“But since being at Liberate,” Lizzie adds, “I have a community of like-minded people I can bounce ideas off, and we can discuss how we’re feeling.
“Our experiences aren’t exactly the same – but similar – and I’ve never had that before.”
An enthusiastic member of the team, Lizzie not only attends the Wednesday online Liberate class, but the Saturday Winnall studio class as well taking part in shows and showcase events – such as this year’s Move Momentum Summer Show and Winchester’s annual mega event, the Hat Fair.
Lizzie has made such incredible progress since first joining us and it’s wonderful to know that Liberate has had such a significant impact on her life. She volunteered for a while here at Move Movementum and then we were absolutely thrilled to welcome her working alongside us, as Admin and Marketing Officer.
“Move Momentum has enhanced my life dramatically,” Lizzie says. “I think it’s the community that makes it so special for me. It led me to a road of acceptance and feeling better about myself. So I owe a lot to Move Momentum for that.”
Lizzie’s story appears in our 2022 Social Impact Report – our annual update of Move Momentum’s year, and do please have a read if you haven’t already.
And if you’d like more information about our Liberate classes, just get in touch! Online classes are on Wednesdays (via Zoom), 7-8pm, Liberate Youth (for 7-13 year-olds) Saturdays 12.30-1.30pm and Liberate Adult (14+) 2-3pm – both studio sessions at Unit 12, Winnall Winchester – and you can come and see us for a FREE taster session!