A CIRENCESTER Kingshill School student has battled a debilitating disorder to dance for the stars in a new television show.
Frankie Hopkins, from Cirencester, was supported by a minibus full of friends and family at her London audition for Sky 1’s Got to Dance, which aired on Sunday.
For any young dancer, the prospect of performing for famous dancers such as former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, would be a nerve-wracking dream come true.
But for 14-year-old Frankie, this golden opportunity was even more incredible because from birth the teenager has suffered from a rare hand and heart disorder called Holt-Oram Syndrome, which can cause loss of limbs.
"I was basically told that I would have to do some dancing or swimming or lose the use of my arms," Frankie said. "I sunk like a brick in swimming so I took up dancing and I’ve done it ever since."
The rising dance star has undergone around 10 operations to reconstruct her hands and is often tired and in pain due to the genetic condition but this has never fazed her, Frankie’s mum Becky said.
"She’s never said ‘I can’t’ it’s always ‘I can try,’ Becky said. "It’s really humbling to sit and watch what she’s achieved so far."
Although the Cirencester Creative Dance Academy student did not make it past the audition stage, she said she had an amazing time being followed by a TV film crew and mingling with the professionals.
And despite displacing her toe just ten minutes before going on for her audition, the determined teenager still managed to impress the judges with an "emotion-filled" contemporary lyrical piece.
Got to Dance can now be viewed on Sky 1.
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