'Lesta is an inspiration. Learning to dance from someone like me has shown me that it really is possible to dance with a disability. It has given me hope'

Rob S. ( former student)

Lesta is VI (visually impaired), registered in the UK disabled with sight impairment. She is also BIPOC, part of the global majority, British-born Chinese. She is a professional jazz/swing dancer and has been dancing for over 16 years, specialising in the dances of the swing era; Lindy hop, Solo Authentic Jazz, Charleston, Balboa, Shag, and is versatile with style. She has been teaching for around 12 years, and danced as a soloist, in a couple, in groups and troupes, and she can switch roles - lead/follow. Lesta is a social dancer first and foremost, and she teaches, performs, and competes nationally and internationally amongst non-disabled people. She has performed at events including Bestival, Twinwood, Latitude, Victoria Embankment Fest, Big Feastival, RAH, Secret Cinema, Candlelight Club and many more. She is the only VI Lindyhop professional of colour globally.

In the disabled dance realm, Lesta won a bursary with People Dancing in 2022 and was mentored by Natalie Garrett-Brown and Louise Katerega to develop her inclusive dance practice. She has since been involved with major inclusive dance companies - Candoco and Stopgap - and more VI focussed dance companies - Illuminate Freedom and Touchdown Dance - and has recently starred in a dance film directed by Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas). She began to set up her own dance classes for VI people in 2023 and found to be an incredibly rewarding experience. She works as an access consultant alongside a global majority led audio description company Soundscribe as well as independently, advising on dance and theatre shows how to improve accessibility.

‘I believe dancing is for everyone. It doesn’t matter about a persons gender, race, religion, background, sexuality, dis/(ability), or conditions. Everyone deserves the right to experience the joy of dance. As a VI dancer, I feel my impairment has made me a stronger dancer than I ever have been because I am more attuned with my body and connected to the music, people and my surroundings. My disability in dance is my strength and I would like to share my skills to help others’