Michelle Ryan doesn’t let MS stop her from inspiring others to dance with disabilities
MICHELLE Ryan works brings a unique perspective to her work with disabled performers in Adelaide. While she was an international ballet dancer, she knows all about disability.
WHEN she took on the job of artistic director at Restless Dance Theatre — the celebrated Adelaide company that works with disabled performers — Michelle brought a truly unique perspective. Not only had she been an internationally successful ballet dancer, she also knew a thing or two about disability.
“I guess you could say I was at the top of my game when I was diagnosed with MS,” says Michelle, who was suddenly struck down by the disease while working in Europe in 2001. “Before that, life was pretty exciting for a 30-year-old girl from Townsville; I was working with (legendary choreographer) Meryl Tankard touring the world for eight years. Then everything changed almost overnight. Dancing stopped.”
Debilitated and requiring a wheelchair, today’s Australian of the Day began to question her very identity.
“I’d danced since I was four years old and all and that’s how I always thought of myself — as a dancer — so all of a sudden to have that taken away, you kind of go, ‘Who am I and what am I supposed to do?’”
After a 10 year hiatus, the answer eventually came in 2011 when Michelle was invited by Belgian choreographer Alain Platel to perform a solo — seated on a chair — in a production at the Brisbane Festival.
“When I was on stage again doing a dance sitting on a chair I went, ‘I am still this person! I am a dancer and I have a contribution to make’,” she says.
Two year later the planets aligned when Michelle was appointed to her role at Restless Dance Theatre where she is a driving force behind the company’s growing success. “It was the only job in the arts I was prepared to come back for,” says Michelle, 45.
“The company really has a focus on celebrating diversity of people with a disability and — because I had acquired a disability I’d experienced such negativity in my own head — I thought this was an opportunity to showcase how people with disability have as much to offer as any other dancer.”
But her motivation doggedness doesn’t stem from dancing alone. “I was brought up by my working class parents to respect other people so when I see that people aren’t being respected I get a bit grumpy,” says Michelle.
“It makes me think. ‘How can I change that?’ I know can’t change the world but I reckon I have to try and change it just a little bit.”
CommBank has partnered with News Corp Australia to champion the Australian of the Day initiative which celebrates people in our neighbourhoods and communities who really make a difference to how we live and who we are. You can read all their stories at australianoftheday.com.au, where you can also nominate someone you know.
Originally published as Michelle Ryan doesn’t let MS stop her from inspiring others to dance with disabilities
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