The Dancer

Ann is an artist from the Sunshine Coast who works in acrylics, pastels, and oils. Living with bipolar disorder for over 30 years has been a real learning curve and hard to accept at times. But things that have proven most helpful are doing art, playing an instrument, listening to music, doing yoga, gardening, and, most importantly, social interaction with good friends who don't judge and accept you for who you are.

I love to dance and watch people dancing. It's so good for the soul to get lost moving to the music; a place where all your worries and cares disappear. Years ago, I went to a belly dancing Haffla and it was wonderful to see all the dancers in their colourful costumes. This painting is inspired by one particularly marvellous dancer who performed with a sword balanced perfectly on her head.