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If you get nothing else out of this post, I encourage you to visit whatiswhat.com, browse to the section titled what is… and read the faq.

Bill Shannon was born with Perthes’ disease, aka Legg-Calve disease. In layman’s terms, where the thighbone connects to the hip, the top of the thighbone does not develop properly due to circulation issues. This results in immediate pain and long term joint deformation when bearing weight through the legs. Thus, the use of crutches.

Shannon is a self-styled interdisciplinary artist who invented a unique technique for dancing on crutches, the Shannon Technique, that derives from his extensive experience in their use as a mobility aid. He has said before that it didn’t start as art, when he was younger he was just trying to ascend stairs without looking strange. Despite the disability, Bill has always been a performer who didn’t let the crutches get in the way.

As an adult Shannon has come to eloquently express himself through dance and writing. The nature of his disability allows him to move quite well for short periods and at first glance leaves people wondering if he really is disabled. On his website he addresses some tough questions relating to this ambiguity of disability. He also addresses more philosophical topics like the disability continuum. His efforts to represent the disabled population of the world and challenge perceptions extend through his dance and movement he calls awkwardness and elegance.

I live and create through a philosophy of paradoxical transformation. When burdened with any given hurdle, I attempt a qualitative shift, creating possibility from failure and taking awkwardness into an ambiguous world of awkwardness and elegance.

One might be tempted to describe Bill as a very hip dude…