When Diane Kennedy was diagnosed with polio in 1944, she lost the use of her legs. But today, at nearly 90 years old, she’s still dancing and has no plans to stop.
In 1944, Diane Kennedy contracted polio – a virus that attacks nerve cells in the spinal cord, leading to temporary or sometimes permanent paralysis.
At the time, she was eight years old and living in Winnipeg with her family. In the weeks following her diagnosis, she lost the ability to use both legs, spent time in the hospital, and for a while had to be wheeled to school in a wagon.
While some cases of polio can result in severe complications, others allow individuals to fully recover. Nerves can heal and regain function.
Fortunately for Kennedy, this was her experience. “As soon as I could walk again, I went right back to dancing,” she says with a big smile on her face.
Dancing has always been her true love. She started dancing at just three years old and wasn’t going to let illness take that joy away from her.
Diane believes her love for dance comes from growing up in a creative home. Her mother was an artist who studied in Paris while her father was a singer.
<p“ My father came to Canada with a Welsh Youth Choir and was a tenor soloist in our church choir. One of my favourite things to do was sit in the living room while my dad was practicing,” she recalls.
As children, Diane and her three sisters were given the option of either piano or dance lessons – learning an art form was somewhat expected for them.
Diane’s sisters all chose piano but she opted for dance. “If I hear music, I can’t help but dance. It’s my language,” she explains.
Diane built confidence over the years through dance classes and eventually took on various roles performing ballet and teaching it as well.
Aged 17 in 1953, she became the Assistant Ballet Mistress at the Canadian School of Ballet located in Alberta. Here she played an important role as an instructor training dancers and preparing performances.
A few years later, she found more professional opportunities including performances with Manitoba’s premier outdoor theatre called Rainbow Stage. She appeared in two productions there: Brigadoon and The King and I.
Diane still vividly remembers one scene from The King and I where she had to perform on a tall platform very close to its edge. “It was lovely but kind of scary,” she recalls.
By the 1980s, Diane decided it was time to focus more on teaching and quickly began instructing classes for youth, adults, and seniors alike.
A move to Ontario led her teaching opportunities across Penetanguishene, Midland, Orillia, Lafontaine, and Victoria Harbour. Her fitness classes were offered at places such as Georgian Manor, Bethel Baptist Church, Askennonia Senior Centre; at one point even running her own studio called Diane School of Dance & Fitness.
Todayshe runs a fitness program called On The Move at the Midland YMCA which combines mobility exercises along with muscle-conditioning activities all done from seated positions. Diane personally choreographs routines for this class which she’s been teaching since 2015
If you ask about what happens during class time? Diane responds: “I always tell people they’ll be moving from their head to their toes. And they can come do as much or as little as they can.”
Sitting exercises provide seniors great low-impact ways they can strengthen muscles without putting stress on joints
“You know lots of folks this age aren’t moving enough,”she adds.”I mean just being able still do this stuff at my age must have something connected with staying active, right?”
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The YMCA serves as wonderful community space where everyone recognizes Diana’s name looking forward seeing each other every week. Recently, Diana got awarded volunteer appreciation award by YMCA honoring fifteen years dedication towards volunteering
Nearing ninety, she has no plan stopping wearing those dancing shoes.”I believe that God kept me here doing what I’m meant too teach people how move!”She confidently states.
Additonally, she strongly encourages fellow seniors stay active :“Get out get exercising! Doesn’t matter how just keep moving!”
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