Quadruple Amputee Dances at World-Famous Juilliard School

Although Kiera Brinkley is a quadruple amputee, her disabilities have never stopped her from dancing. And recently, she had the opportunity to show off her skills with a performance at the world-famous Juilliard School.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on September 01 2009

Juilliard School. Image: Paul Masck

Kiera Brinkley, a 16-year-old girl from Portland, Oregon, has always loved to dance. But she’s never worn a pair of ballet slippers, and her silhouette looks a bit different than the tall, leggy dancers you’re probably accustomed to seeing. While Kiera’s moves are as beautiful as any other dancer’s, she is a quadruple amputee, and has learned to dance without the use of full-length arms or legs.

Kiera lost her limbs at the age of two, after catching a dangerous bacterial infection called pneumococcosis. After the amputation, though, Kiera seemed to bounce right back to her happy self. As soon as she woke up after the surgery, she asked her mother if she could watch her favorite movie, The Lion King. “I was like ‘she’s still Kiera but a little shorter’,” her mother, Elesha Boyd, told KGW News.

Although Kiera uses a wheelchair to get around, she never feels sorry for herself or considers herself disabled—and when she gets on the floor to dance, Kiera’s instructor “can see her arms and legs,” said Kiera’s mother. So when Kiera was given the opportunity to choose a wish from a non-profit group called The Dream Factory, she knew exactly what she wanted: to visit, and dance at, Juilliard, the world-renowned performing arts school in New York City.

The Dream Factory put Kiera on a plane to New York for a full week at the end of July. During her time there, she had the opportunity to sit in on classes, take a tour, and, best of all, perform for the students there.

“It’s a miracle honestly, as a dancer, to be able to go there,” she said. “It will help me grow stronger in my dance career.”

Watch an amazing video of Kiera showing off her dance moves at KGW News.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, General Interest, Heroes,

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