The Remarkable Story of Megumi Vegso
“I started dancing when I was ten years old. At the age of 15, I received an invitation to join the Professional Division at the School of Alberta Ballet where I dedicated two years to the program. Unfortunately, I was compelled to quit due to a nerve injury in my foot. I had always aspired to be a ballet teacher, but with the prospect of a seven-year recovery before resuming my training, I decided to leave that chapter of my life behind to pursue university instead.
Five years ago, I suffered an ischemic stroke that damaged my cerebellum, resulting in complete impairments to my walking, body rotation, and balance. In the end, the challenges the stroke imposed prevented me from completing my PhD program. My mother had never taken ballet lessons but always had a desire to learn. She expressed her interest in registering for classes at Ballet Kelowna’s In Motion program last year, and I felt that I may have finally regained enough motor skills to try it with her. Together, we registered for the intro class.
Being reintroduced to Ballet after it had been absent from my life for 15 years felt akin to speaking a long-forgotten language. Executing the first retiré, arabesque, and pirouette this term was incredibly staggering. I felt like my body should have inherently known what to do, but the neural pathways were lost in the stroke. Nevertheless, accomplishing some steps and observing my progress over the term has been immensely gratifying. Ballet class has become the highlight of my week. These classes have accelerated the improvement of my strength and range of motion more rapidly than anything I had tried in my post-stroke year, and of course, sharing these weekly class experiences with my mother makes it so much more enjoyable!”
More IN MOTION Participant Profiles:
Jacqueline Dyment Intro to Contemporary
I have been taking Ballet and now Contemporary from Ballet Kelowna through their IN MOTION program since 2018 when I moved to Kelowna. In my thirties and a new mom, not only did it connect me back to dance but I discovered that the instructors (wonderfully) still pushed us old gals to keep growing! The class was a time to connect with like minded people in the community, to challenge myself physically, and to laugh with others as we take risks at our own level. Getting to know the wonderful dancers at BK as instructors was an added bonus too!
Stephanie Henderson Advanced Ballet
Participating in Ballet Kelowna's IN MOTION program has been an incredibly rewarding experience! Despite a 15-year break from dance classes, I initially hesitated to register, feeling I might be too old to start up again. However, after my first IN MOTION class, I rediscovered my love for dance and realized what I had been missing. These classes have filled a void in my life that I wasn't even aware of! The instructors, apart from their extensive expertise, foster a kind, accepting, and non-judgmental environment, creating a delightful atmosphere.