KEILEY Evans was born with juvenile arthritis, and her mum was soon told her daughter would never be able to walk, and was likely to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Twenty-seven years later, Keiley, from Grays, has just opened up her first Babyballet dance school in Corringham – and has told how dance saved her life.

Speaking of her battle with the disease, Keiley, who has had physiotherapy and hydrotherapy since she was diagnosed aged one, said: “My mum Teresa was determined right from the word go that I wouldn’t end up in a wheelchair.

“Walking and any kind of movement was very painful during a flare-up.

“But I loved dance straight away – it encouraged me to do things that doctors said I would never be able to do. Now look at me.”

Often having to sit out of school PE games, Keiley started dance classes when she was five.

Explaining the impact it had, she said: “Dance gave me the confidence to believe that I could do things.”

When she heard about the new phenomenon sweeping the nation, Babyballet, the 28-year old was immediately inspired. She added: “I am passionate about dance’s power to help people – anyone can dance!

“Then when I first heard about Babyballet, I thought, wow, that was me when I was young. That sounds fantastic.”

Her dream came true when her own former dance teacher, Victoria Lardner, passed over the running of the Evans School of Dance in Grays – formerly Marquelle School – to Keiley in January.

Keiley, of Rosedale Road, said: “She wanted someone as passionate as her about dance, someone she trusted, to have it.”

With her youngest class for children aged six to 18 months, pirhouettes may be a little way off on the cards.

Nevertheless, Keiley’s first students already have been asked to perform at a show at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in February 2016.

For more information on Babyballet East Thurrock and its classes, visit www.babyballet.co.uk