Sponsored by
Leeds dancer's amazing recovery after nighclub attack
LYING in his hospital bed with a broken neck, professional dancer De-Napoli Clarke thought he would never move again.
De-Napoli, a leading light in the world of contemporary dance, had his career halted after a vicious attack in a Leeds nightclub.
Now the 38-year-old father-of-three, from Leeds, who is a founder and artistic director of RJC Dance, Chapeltown, has created a show, Halo, about a period in his life, following the unprovoked attack.
A bottle was thrown at him on the dance floor in the former Ritzy's club in the Merrion Centre, in January 1998.
See what's in store for us with our video weather forecast
"As I danced I suddenly felt something hit my head and was knocked over. Somehow I staggered up and managed to get in a taxi with help.
"Later I got to A&E but it wasn't for a few days until they said my neck was broken. I was put in traction and thought my life was over.
"It was a shock and I took it bad but knew I had to get moving again. My first child was just born and it was a difficult time."
He was choreographing shows from his bed and undertook his own physio programme to recover.
The title, Halo, was named after the equipment which left him immobilised from his neck to his head by a halo traction screwed into his skull in four places.
"The consultant looked at my X-rays and said I should have been paralysed or dead," he added.
Within four months he had made a miraculous recovery and was dancing again.
He said: "Now 11 years on, the show presents my pain and torment when an unforeseen and unprovoked attack prevented me from pursuing my first love."
He added: "I have since become stronger, wiser and more determined. I live to dance and dance to live."
Halo – performed by De-Napoli – is a combination of contemporary, reggae dance styles with martial arts, as he takes you through his mental and physical pathway to recovery, with narration.
As a professional dancer he has suffered countless injuries and also has osteo-arthritis in his knees.
He said the work takes onlookers through his mental and physical pathway to recovery and opens debate about injuries and coping with them.
De-Napoli was named Community Hero at the Leeds Black Awards in January 2009 for his contribution to the local community in Chapeltown, through running youth classes at the dance school.
Founded in 1993, RJC Dance tours nationally and internationally from its base in the Mandela Centre, Chapeltown.
Halo is at Seven Arts Centre, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, on Saturday April 18. Tickets from 0113 262 6777. It is also at the Square Chapel in Halifax on Friday June 12.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STORY. CLICK THE COMMENT BUTTON BELOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY - WE'LL PUBLISH THE BEST IN FRIDAY'S YORKSHIRE EVENING POST.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
