Tristan Enderle
Tristan Enderle might be small, but he is mighty. At 10, he lives with the rare genetic disorder, Russell Silver Syndrome. However, dance has been a way for Tristan to release tension and to distract him from his daily challenges.
Tristan became interested in dance through a project between Cambridge Rare Disease Network’s children’s group Unique Feet and choreographer Wayne McGregor.
‘I really enjoyed creating a piece of contemporary dance with our group. Using our bodies to express our uniqueness, as well as our commonality of bodies loving to move to music.’ The young dancers performed at the opening of RAREFest 2018, to a standing ovation.
Unique Feet exists to take the focus off rare diseases in medical terms, and not lose sight of the children and families at the heart of its work. Formed in 2015, it provides a safe and welcoming space for children with a range of rare conditions to meet for fun, friendship and confidence-building activities.
Tristan studies at the UK’s Colours of Dance, enjoying several types of dance. ‘I really like tap as you get to make really loud noises and not get told off for it,’ he remarks. It is important that his teachers ‘are really free and open, and allow me to dance as me. They encourage me to try again to get something right.’
‘Most boys bully me for being a dancer and say it is for girls,’ Tristan says, but this age-old stereotype is something he would like to change in the future. ‘I like performing. It makes me feel good that others get to watch me, so I can share my skills,’ he says. ‘I just thought, damn you – that you don’t like dance. I danced even more.’
Sound advice to live by: ‘don’t be scared about what others say and keep trying,’ says Tristan. Next on his list: mastering a spinning headstand in street dance.