Edinburgh dance therapist wins Children’s Choice Award

Delighted Christina Liddell says award was 'such a surprise'

A dancer from Edinburgh who uses movement and music to help sick children recover has won a top award.

Christina Liddell from South Queensferry graduated from Edinburgh College with a degree in dance in 2012.

She intended to continue on to become a professional dancer but after knock backs during auditioning she applied for a teaching job at Dancebase in the Grassmarket.

As part of this new role, she started working as an instructor for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, bringing dance into Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital.

This opened up a new world of inclusive dance and movement therapy which she says has provided her with joy far beyond landing any starring role.

Since 2016, Christina, 29, has worked closely with the physiotherapy department creating personalised dance programmes for children of all abilities during their stay in hospital.

Over the last four years, she has helped dozens of children through their treatment using dance to aid in their physical and mental recovery.

Poppy Smith, nine, was an inpatient and said her dance classes with Christina were the “highlight of her days”.

She said: “It was really hard being in the hospital and not being able to do fun things because I was so poorly”

“Christina came to see me every week and played songs I liked and helped me to dance. Even when I didn’t feel well enough to dance Christina would visit me and talk about music and dancing and make me feel better.

The pair became firm friends chatting about Poppy’s favourite band Little Mix and their shared love of dance and when the schoolgirl left the hospital she started attending dance classes in the community.

Poppy’s mum Laura said: “Christina continued to support Poppy once she was discharged, with dance lessons in the community. She also invited her to work on a show for the Edinburgh Fringe and it just had such a huge impact on her self-confidence”.

The Little Mix fan told Christina that one of her biggest wishes was to meet her favourite girl band which Christina arranged.

Poppy said that Christina’s help meeting her idols, Little Mix, led to the nomination for the Children’s Choice Award.

Christina said: “I’ve been blown away by Poppy’s gesture. For me, it all comes back to the amazing children and young people I have the joy of knowing and working with through Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity. I feel so indebted to them.”

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