My name is Katie Senior and I would like to tell you about something I have done that makes me feel very proud.
On the 8th of September 2018 I was asked to present a dance and drama performance called “That Extra ‘Some” at TEDx Canberra. This was a piece I had developed in 2017 with my mentor Liz Lea for the Ignite Creatives Project run by the Belconnen Art Centre and tries to show with film, dance and voice the experience of life with an extra chromosome. It was very well received when we performed it at the end of 2017 and won me an ACT Art Critics Award.
What makes me so proud is that for the last two years I have been suffering with a depressive disorder from some medical conditions. This affected every part of my life, even my passion for dancing and acting. None of the things I used to enjoy seemed to give me any pleasure, not even my favourite movies. It was really hard to create dance moves to try and tell my story because I just couldn’t seem to think, and everything felt difficult. It was a challenge to be enthusiastic about my ideas and the endless rehearsals and changes involved in the creative process. I am very grateful for the help and support of Liz and my family to help me see it through and now as I am well on the road to recovery, I am glad I kept going. When things seem really hard… remember to Never Give Up!
Katie’s incredible piece can be seen here:
YouTube Video
Photo credit: TedXCanberra – Divergence- Jules Boag
