Stroke Survivor Ditches Walking Stick Thanks to Dance Class

Six months after a stroke paralyzed Laura Della Pasqua's arm and leg, she stepped into a dance studio terrified but hopeful. The Mature Artists Dance Experience welcomed her exactly as she was.

A decade later, she no longer needs the walking stick she once relied on. "Through that slow process of discovery, I've developed a lot of physical confidence and improved in my mobility so much," Della Pasqua said.

MADE brings together professional choreographers and dancers over 50 across Tasmania. For more than 20 years, the program has partnered trained artists with everyday women who want to move, create, and connect.

The dancers include mothers, grandmothers, businesswomen, and adventurers. Their latest show, "Particles," explores connection and the wisdom that comes with age at Hobart's Moonah Arts Centre.

"You look at everybody's faces, and they're all incredible women," Della Pasqua said. "You see how much life they've lived, their strength."

Sunny's Take

What makes MADE special isn't just the physical benefits. Jane Polley, a former dance teacher performing with the group for the first time, loves that fitness happens naturally while exploring meaningful choreography.

"You're actually thinking about the meaning of the choreography, so it's a beautiful way to actually get fitter," Polley said. It's not like forcing yourself through another gym session.

The community bonds run deep. "The camaraderie and the support that we give each other is just beautiful," Della Pasqua said. "There's no competition, there's just total acceptance and belief in each other's capacity."

Western Australian choreographer Daryl Brandwood crafted the recent performance around themes of life, loss, and love. "As you get older you have more life experience and I think it's just so lovely to pull the very happy things and also the sad things," he said.

This year, MADE relied entirely on volunteers, donations, and fundraising after losing government funding. The group hopes Tasmania's upcoming state budget will recognize how arts programs like theirs improve health and wellbeing across communities.

For Della Pasqua, the impact is unmistakable: she traded her walking stick for confidence, strength, and a stage where her body tells stories of resilience.