'Dancing after sight loss puts joy in my heart'

A grandmother who lost her sight nearly 20 years ago says taking to the ballroom has "given my life a new dimension" after rediscovering her love of dancing.

Deborah Impiazzi, 64, lost her sight at the age of 45 after being diagnosed with Uveal Effusion Syndrome, a rare eye disorder which she says stripped her of her confidence.

Impiazzi, from Haslemere in Surrey, took up blind ballroom dancing lessons and said getting back on the dancefloor "puts joy in my heart and has given my life renewed purpose".

"I didn't think I'd get the chance to dance again after losing my sight," she said. "It's so important to showcase what we can do and to raise awareness."

"I used to get up and think, 'Oh no, not another day'," she said. "It took time me a long before I felt able to venture out."

Impiazzi, who first started dancing aged four before stopping at 16, resumed lessons a year ago at Step Change Studios in London.

She travels around four hours for the weekly lessons, describing the journey as "worth every minute".

She also praised Strictly Come Dancing winner Chris McCausland, who is himself blind, who she said "made people think afresh about blind dancers".

In May, she competed in the Freedom To Dance competition in London, winning seven medals including first place in the Latin Rumba.

She also placed second in the Cha Cha Cha, Samba and multi-dance categories, and third in the Paso Doble, Ballroom Waltz and Tango.

Dr Rashmi Becker, founder of the Step Change Studios, said: "I have seen the negative impact of a dance culture that idealises perfection and wanted to create more inclusive opportunities.

"We get to experience the same sense of community when our dancers compete and perform, reminding everyone in the room of why we dance."

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