A SERIOUS medical condition could not stop Taylors Hill teenager Chantal from pursuing her passion for dancing.
The 16-year-old has been dancing for more than a decade and this year received a High Distinction – the highest mark in the state – during her Commonwealth Teachers Society of Dance exams in the ‘theatrical perpetual’ style.
Chantal also studies jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary and acrobatic styles with the Melvan Dancers studios, located in Keilor, Hillside and Kings Park.
Last year, Chantal and her fellow pupils from the Melvan Dancers were scheduled to perform in a concert series called ‘Dance Around the World’ in America.
However, before the trip Chantal realised something was wrong.
“I woke up and the left side of my face was not working properly,” she said.
Chantal was diagnosed with a colestuatoma, a type of skin cyst located in the middle ear and skull bone.
Chantal’s underwent a five-hour operation at the Royal Children’s Hospital to have the colestuatoma removed.
“It’s quite rare and the surgery had many risks – I could have gone deaf or become paralysed along my left side,” Chantal said.
“I had to have my hair chopped off on that side and I have a scar behind my ear.”
Despite the colestuatoma, Chantal performed in ‘Dance Around the World’ at Hollywood Blvd, Disneyland and Universal Studios in Los Angeles.
“My dancing school has been very supportive and friendly, the teacher is always looking out for me,” Chantal said.
The Copperfield College student continues to dance three times per week and said she would like to become a dance instructor in the future.
“It’s a lot of fun, it keeps you fit. I love dancing,” Chantal said.
A photo of Chantal striking a dance pose taken at the Grand Canyon in America even won her a dance store voucher, in an online contest.
