“I remember just crying, wishing I could dance again.”
Cianna Thompson explains the brutal effects on her mental health after her potentially career ending injury.
“I know what it’s like to not be able to dance, so why would I not take every opportunity? I don’t think I will ever take being able to dance for granted again.”
“If you’ve got a dance class there and you have the opportunity to do it, why are you not doing it?”
The University of Gloucestershire’s Dance Vice-Club Captain’s emotions came through as Cianna described her thoughts while enduring the injury.
Cianna had always battled injury, describing a condition she suffered with, causing her to have two surgeries on both knees at the age of seven and nine.
This condition is called osteochondritis dissecans which is where part of the bone underneath cartilage dies due to a lack of blood.
“For a very long time they’d just turn around and go, ‘It’s just your condition,’ and I’m like no—there is something seriously wrong.”
“I stood up in class and I was like, ooh, something’s not right—like seriously not right. I walked to the café and I literally couldn’t move. I got home and I couldn’t lift my leg more than 20cm when I sat down.”
The strength in Cianna’s character shined through as she described what happened, what many people would have quit after, Cianna fought to get back despite the difficulties in the way.
“Being told to stop dancing, when I don’t ever stop dancing was really difficult. My entire summer kind of went. I didn’t have a social life because I couldn’t stand up long enough to work or to see my friends.”
“Not being able to dance was really hard because it’s been my life since I was three, but it made me realise how badly I want it.”
Cianna’s personality is instantly likeable, she had an incredible work ethic to return to doing what she loves and never stopped fighting for it, where many people can quit, the way Cianna described her dance career made it clear she has had this mentality the whole time.
“In 12 weeks, I’ve gone from not being able to put my foot on the floor at all to being able to dance, I’ve had to be really selective with what I do and how hard I go.”
Cianna’s grit and determination to get out the better side from his injury and fight back to do what she loves is a perfect example of her character, someone who is resilient and a pleasure to speak to, it is clear why she was elected as Vice-Captain, a true role model on and off the dance floor.
“I knew it was going to be hard but there was nothing stopping me dancing again.”
