Dancer's trauma leads to new Leeds enterprise, helping others

Leonora Stapleton has triumphed over adversity, to help others

A top dancer from Leeds who suffered a series of traumatic events, most recently being diagnosed with breast cancer, is helping others to learn to dance for the huge wellbeing benefits it brings.

Leonora Stapleton was a successful professional dancer in New York, who performed in the Lion King on Broadway.

She was there when the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened. The tragedy, and a mugging a few weeks later, left her dazed, but it was years before she realised the full impact.

Then in 2017, shortly after her mother died, Leonora was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer.

She said: “In January 2018 I decided to have a mastectomy and went through a massive sense of shame and loss. The reality struck deep in my soul.

“I had to come to terms with all the layers of the deep wounds I had suppressed. In addition, I recognised the resilience I had developed.”

Leonora launched Be Body Aware, in October last year. She runs classes and workshops on body image, dance and fitness for wellbeing, and body shaming.

She took her work into schools across Leeds before lockdown struck, and is now running dance classes on Zoom, but looks forward to returning to face-to-face work.

Her venture was supported by AD:VENTURE, which helps new businesses and those under three years old.

Despite being an experienced dancer, choreographer, speaker and qualified teacher, with a Masters degree in leadership and management, Leonora’s confidence was at rock bottom when she started the company.

Sarah Carling, programme manager for AD:VENTURE, described Leonora’s story as an inspiration.

For more information about Be Body Aware go to https://bebodyaware.co.uk/

To fnd out about AD:VENTURE go to ad-venture.org.uk