At least that’s what the school teacher told the mother of Gillian Lynne as she was summoned to the principal’s.
Today we know Gillian Lynne as one of the most famous English dancer, choreographer, actress, and theatre-television director.
In 2018, The new London Theatre was renamed in honor of her as the Gillian Lynne Theatre. It is the first theatre in the West End of London to be named after a non-royal woman.
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But in 1926, Gillian was born as a difficult child.
Today we have a name for this disorder: ADHD. But in 1930s when she went to schools, ADHD was not yet discovered.
As she couldn’t seat still in a class, her class teacher summoned her mother, showed her poor grades and said, ” She was unmanageable, spoils the class. You must take her to a doctor. And please don’t come back.”
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The doctor observed this restless kid all through the half an hour as her mother narrated her nightmare.
Then the doctor got up and asked the mother out for a talk in private. Before that he had turned on the radio set. As both the adults watched from outside, the girl stood up and broke out into graceful movements along with the songs.
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The doctor said,” Ma’am, you have a problem here. Your daughter is NOT sick. She does have a learning disorder though.
“Your daughter is a born dancer. She cannot seat still in a math class. Because she can think only when her limbs move.
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Lynne’s mother didn’t go back to her school. She put her in a dancing school and rest is history.
Dame Gillian Lynne has choreographed two of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, Cats and
The Phantom of the Opera.
At age 87, she was made a DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) .
So if a kid is restless and her grades are poor, be patient. Greater things may be in store for her.
Dr Ramakanta's Ideas 