By Vickie Carnaghan
The idea of performing for a crowd may seem daunting to many. The idea of performing an improvised dance in a wheelchair using only your upper body for audiences around the region may seem unthinkable.
But one local student has done just that.
Thirteen-year-old Benjamin Firth has performed with his improvisation dance troupe at various venues around the city, overcoming any limitations his wheelchair may impose.
Last week Firth was granted a scholarship at an awards ceremony held at the National Library and Archives. The scholarship, donated by the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama, will provide funding for Firth to receive private dance lessons for one year.
The ceremony, sponsored by MASC, honoured five students in different artistic disciplines. MASC is a local organization that brings visual and performing art workshops and events to schools, to enhance regular curriculum programming. The candidates were selected from around the region.
Firth’s acceptance speech reflected gratitude for his supporters – his parents, his teachers and his friends.
“They inspire me and have taken me as far as I’ve gotten,” he said.
But his own intrinsic self-confidence also helped him along the way. Firth says overcoming stage fright was simple, “I prepared for it. I said okay, this is what I want to do and what I have to do,” he says.
Benjamin’s father Martin Firth says Benjamin has always felt at ease expressing himself, but dancing has boosted his son’s self-esteem.
“It’s enhanced his confidence. We always taught him to believe in himself,” Martin says.“This is a real reinforcement of these things.”
Martin says he’s proud of his son’s achievements in dance, but he’s more thrilled that Benjamin has found something that he loves.
“This is his hockey,” says Martin. “Anything he believes in, he does well at. It’s wonderful to see him excel and prove there are no restrictions.”
Firth was introduced to dancing three years ago when the DanceAbility class came to his school. He says he immediately fell in love with the electric live music, and has worked to build his skills ever since. He rehearses once a week with his DanceAbility class, practicing improvisational dances to live music. The music, says Firth, is diverse and the multi-instrument accompanists help to set the mood for the class.
“Music creates atmosphere,” says Firth. And the multicultural scores allow the class to explore a “variety of possibilities.” He says one advantage is that each dancer gets to interpret the music in his or her own way.
“It’s unlike any other type of dance,” he says.
The class itself is non-traditional, but is steeped in a thoughtful philosophy. Firth says the whole program is improvised.
“It’s building moving relationships with people through contact and free movement.”
Indeed, two other dancers in the class are confined to wheelchairs, which other students interact with during the routines. Through their dancing Firth says the students have become comfortable with each other and these solid relationships are reflected in the dance.
The dances follow traditional concepts, but students play with time, space and rhythm, says teacher Renata Soutter.
Soutter praises the youngest member of her class, saying Firth is open-minded and willing to take risks.
“He shares his opinion, and is willing to encourage people,” she says.
The troupe has performed at national festivals. They perform an average of four performances a year.
Firth says his crowning achievement last year was participating in a festival at the National Arts Centre.