THE family of a professional dancer who died of bowel cancer at the age of 36 are preparing to mark her 40th birthday with a dance show.
Katie Pearson, from Stairfoot, died in March 2015 at Barnsley Hospice, despite being told she was too young to have the disease. She had visited her GP for two years suffering from a bloated stomach and bleeding, eventually being diagnosed in 2010.
Katie had loved dance from an early age, with tap being her favourite, and graduated with a degree in contemporary dance. She trained and performed with companies in New York and Toronto and helped youngsters and adults with disabilities get into dancing. She also founded the Mad For Dance community dance group with her sister Jo Wilson, and the Northern Tap Company.
Katie was forced to give up dancing for good when she developed neuropathy - nerve damage - in her hands and feet as a result of chemotherapy.
Her sister Jo, 46, of Hunningley Close, Stairfoot, is organising the show, which Katie asked her to do.
Jo said: “Katie will be 40 on November 2, and when she was in the hospice she was always putting shows on. She said to me one day, ‘it would be nice if you could put a show on for me’ - meaning after she had died.
“It’s been a tough three years without her, but I thought that when she was 40 it would be a really good idea.
“It’s going to be a real mix, with singing, contemporary dance, tap, musical theatre.
“It’s also going to be quite moving, and is about celebrating her life. We’ve got a slide show of photographs which Katie made and which was played at her funeral.
“I think Katie would be over the moon to be remembered in this way. She loved putting on shows and raising money for the Barnsley Hospice, and she was really passionate about getting as many people in Barnsley dancing as possible.
“If anyone who knew Katie wants to get involved in anyway, they can contact us.”
Katie’s nieces Hollie, 15, and Poppy, ten, will perform in the show and Poppy has written a poem called ‘Dear Cancer’ which is about her Auntie Katie.
Jo is hoping to get as many people involved as possible, and said Katie’s friend and dance teacher Bev Lightfoot, who danced with Katie, would be asking some of her students to perform. Jo is also hoping to get students from the Electric Theatre in Barnsley involved, and is being helped by drama teacher Jamie Utley at Netherwood school.
The show will raise money for Barnsley Hospice and The Well, both of which treated Katie. Jo said she had received a massive amount of help from the hospice and is still having counselling.
“Katie and I were so close, I kind of went into shock. I’m having counselling now from the hospice. I think people are scared and think it’s just about dying. But it is wonderful, and it has helped me so much. I don’t think I would be up to doing this show if it wasn’t for their support.”
The show will be performed at Netherwood School on Saturday November 3. Anyone wanting to perform, or to purchase tickets, should contact 320134.
