CFHTT interview with Team England Para Hip Hop Sophie Leesey

 

Name Sophie Leesey

Team: Team England Paracheer Hiphop

Age: 24 (25 on 13th April)

Disability: Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease, Endometriosis, Anxiety and Depression

Career Goal: To enjoy my work and still have independence at home with my conditions. I would love to become a manager so I can teach others and help them grow.

• Share something that makes you happy:

The thing that makes me the happiest is seeing others happy and confident. I LOVE how everyone on our team has found their confidence to perform with sass and strong facials which we saw at BCA Nationals. It was so heartwarming to see this compared to our first training sessions where people were nervous and scared. Seeing my coaches cheering me on at the front of the mat makes me very happy!

• Which Para Team are you most excited to see and why?

I am so excited to see Para Pom compete, we trained alongside them at the beginning of the season and I was so impressed at how versatile the routine was for those with disabilities. The choreo is amazing and the athletes attitude is so positive, they won’t stop working hard until they get their well deserved gold medal at ICU.

 

• How many years of experience do you have?  

I have danced in hip hop and street for 11 years competing for medals, trophies with UDO, BCA, ICC, FC and Jamfest. I have competed in Cheerleading for 7 seasons. I have coached for 3 seasons.

• Which teams are you apart of or have you been part of in the past?

I started cheerleading at Sheffield Hallam University where we got National Champions in Level 2 in my final year at ICC Nationals. This was amazing! I joined Intensity Cheer and Dance when it was created and have been on the hiphop team, levels 2-5 and have coached level 1 and open hip hop in the last few years.

• What was it like when you attended try-outs for Team England Para?

I was sooo nervous! I have also dreamt of competing at Worlds, so to have an opportunity to get on the team was really important to me. I worked so hard at tryouts I couldn’t walk for days, but I got on the team and that was my goal achieved.

 

• Your favourite memory from being a part of Team England Para

My favourite memory was performing at BCA Nationals, where the crows was electric, I have never had such an amazing audience to perform at. It was so loud and made me enjoy the dance even more than usual!

• Describe the funniest thing that’s happen to you while you were at training

We do a team warm up, and everyone chooses an exercise or stretch. Some of the movements my teammates come up with are hilarious to keep it fun.

• Are there any stunt/technique adaptations you make which you find especially interesting?

I love how our coaches have incorporated our disabilities into the routine. It’s especially great to see how Rebecca’s wheelchair is used for basing stunts, handstands and even when I tilt her to the floor so the choreo fits is just perfect!

• What advice would you give to someone who was scared to try-out for Team England Para this year

DO IT! I was scared and unsure whether too, but it has been the best thing I have ever said yes to doing. I have had so much support from family and friends and have met the most courageous athletes in the country doing so. If you are still nervous, ask a friend to go with you, which I did and we listened to hip hop music all the way there which calmed me down and made me excited!

• What will you miss about Team England Para and why

I will miss seeing my friends every training, making memories with people that inspire me to keep going no matter how much pain I am in. I have been given advice on my future and how to cope with my conditions from my teammates, I hope this doesn’t stop once worlds is over.

• What are you most excited to experience at Worlds 2018?

I am so excited to walk out on the stage for the Opening Ceremony. I have seen videos of the crowd roaring and I cannot wait to be a part of history by being the first Team England Para Hiphop team to compete at the ICU world championships.