Polio Survivor, 90, Still Dancing & Inspiring Seniors to Stay Active
- For nearly nine decades, Diane Kennedy has lived a life defined by movement.
- Kennedy’s journey began in Winnipeg, where she was diagnosed with polio, an infectious viral disease that attacks the nervous system.
- Dancing wasn’t merely a hobby for Kennedy; it was a fundamental part of her identity.
The Enduring Power of Movement: A Polio Survivor’s Decades-Long Dance with Life
For nearly nine decades, Diane Kennedy has lived a life defined by movement. Despite contracting polio at age eight in , resulting in temporary paralysis, she returned to her passion – dance – and has continued to teach and inspire others to stay active well into her late 80s. Her story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the profound benefits of lifelong physical activity.
Kennedy’s journey began in Winnipeg, where she was diagnosed with polio, an infectious viral disease that attacks the nervous system. The illness initially robbed her of the use of her legs, requiring her to be transported to school in a wagon. While polio can cause severe and lasting disability, recovery is possible, as nerve cells can sometimes regenerate. Fortunately, Kennedy experienced this regeneration. “As soon as I could walk again, I went right back to dancing,” she recalls, a sentiment brimming with determination.
Dancing wasn’t merely a hobby for Kennedy; it was a fundamental part of her identity. She had been dancing since the age of three, and the thought of relinquishing that joy was unthinkable. Her upbringing in a creative household undoubtedly fostered this passion. Her mother, an artist who had studied in Paris, and her father, a tenor soloist in their church choir, instilled in her a deep appreciation for the arts.
“My father came to Canada with a Welsh Youth Choir and was a tenor soloist in our church choir. One of my favourite things to do was sit in the living room while my dad was practicing,” Kennedy remembers fondly. Growing up, she and her three sisters were encouraged to pursue artistic endeavors, choosing between piano and dance lessons.
While her sisters opted for piano, Kennedy chose dance. “If I hear music, I can’t help but dance. It’s my language,” she explains, highlighting the intrinsic connection between music and movement in her life. This connection propelled her through years of training and performance.
Kennedy’s dedication led her to become an instructor, first as the Assistant Ballet Mistress at the Canadian School of Ballet in Alberta in , at the age of 17. There, she played a crucial role in training dancers and preparing performances. She continued to pursue performance opportunities, appearing in productions of Brigadoon and The King and I with Manitoba’s Rainbow Stage.
She vividly remembers a particularly memorable, albeit slightly nerve-wracking, scene in The King and I, where she danced on the edge of a tall platform. “It was lovely but kind of scary,” she admits, a testament to the challenges and rewards of performing.
By the 1980s, Kennedy shifted her focus towards teaching, offering classes to youth, adults, and seniors in various Ontario communities, including Penetanguishene, Midland, Orillia, Lafontaine, and Victoria Harbour. She established her own school, Diane School of Dance & Fitness, for a period, further solidifying her commitment to sharing her love of movement.
Today, Kennedy teaches a fitness program called “On The Move” at the Midland YMCA. This chair-based exercise class combines mobility and muscle-conditioning exercises, all choreographed by Kennedy herself to a carefully curated playlist. She has been leading the class since .
Her approach to teaching is inclusive and adaptable. “I always tell people they’ll be moving from their head to their toes. And they can come and do as much or as little as they can,” she says, emphasizing the importance of individual participation and comfort. Chair exercise is a valuable, low-impact method for seniors to enhance strength and balance without putting undue stress on their joints.
Kennedy recognizes the importance of staying active, particularly as people age. “You know, a lot of people at this age aren’t moving enough,” she observes. “I mean, the very fact that I’m still doing this at my age has something to do with me moving, right?”
The YMCA has become a vibrant community hub for Kennedy, where she is well-known and appreciated. She recently received a volunteer appreciation award from the YMCA, recognizing her 15 years of dedicated service.
As she approaches her 90th birthday, Kennedy has no plans to retire. “I feel that the Lord has kept me here for a reason. I think it’s to teach people to dance and to move,” she states with conviction. She encourages her peers to prioritize physical activity in whatever form suits them best: “Get out and get exercising. It doesn’t matter which way you want to do it, just move!”
The story of Rita Competti, potentially the world’s oldest living polio survivor at 100 years old, and Zsuzsanna Snarey, an 84-year-old polio survivor who continues to stay active despite developing post-polio syndrome, further illustrates the remarkable capacity for resilience and adaptation among those who have lived with the effects of this disease. Like Kennedy, these women demonstrate that a fulfilling and active life is possible even after facing significant health challenges.
Kennedy’s life serves as an inspiring reminder that movement is not just about physical health; it’s about connection, joy, and a continued engagement with life itself.