Robin Henney
Cape Town - Cassidy Bailey, an 11-year-old from Primrose Park, loves dancing. Despite suffering from spina bifida, a disease which leaves her confined to a wheelchair, the young dancer has been invited to participate in the Holland Dans Spektakel, which will be held in Cuijk, the Netherlands, next year.
“Cassidy and I are extremely excited,” her mother, Esmerelda Bailey said. “She has always wanted to travel overseas with her dancing.”
Cassidy and Thabiso Biyela, a 16-year-old from Pollsmoor, are one of three couples selected to participate in the international competition. This has been made possible by the Chaeli Sport and Recreational Club, an organisation that offers wheelchair dancing classes in South Africa.
The Grade 5 pupil fostered her love of movement through spiritual dancing at the Reconciliation Church in Manenberg.
Her passion grew after seeing wheelchair dancers on TV.
“I told my mom that I wanted to dance like that,” she said.
“I did some research and discovered that the Chaeli Campaign offers classes and we tried our best to get Cassidy in,” her mom said.
Despite only starting to participate in regional competitions three years ago through the Federation for Dance in South Africa, Cassidy has amassed 56 trophies which adorn the family living room.
“Cassidy’s dance classes are on Sundays. She usually wakes us up at 6am but on Sundays she’s super excited to go to church and then her class afterwards,” Esmerelda said.
Cassidy puts on Rihanna’s Work and starts to dance, while her mom watches her, smiling. “She is always dancing and putting on music.”
Caring for her daughter is becoming more difficult as Cassidy grows. “Without the support of my mother-in-law who ensures she’s ready for school in the mornings when my husband Angus and I go to work, I don’t know how I would have managed. We love looking after her. My daughter is extremely special.”
Cassidy was admitted to hospital last October with a serious foot infection which nearly led to an amputation.
Bailey admitted tearfully that doctors were unable to give Cassidy an accurate prognosis.
Despite this, the dancer with her larger-than-life personality continues to wow audiences with her flair.
The family is, however, struggling to raise the R34 000 Cassidy needs to compete in the Netherlands.
She is also unable to travel alone.
The family said they would have to run a fundraising campaign to come up with the money.
Cassidy’s father, Angus Bailey, said “We will do whatever we can to make it work.”
Cape Argus