As a young girl, dance was my avenue of escape. Even just lying on the floor with my eyes closed dreaming of myself dancing and being free was my happy place. I was brought up by my grandparents from the age of 4-years-old. Feeling abandoned by my parents has had its challenges. Both my parents had gone their separate ways to pursue their careers, leaving a bewildered child behind, wondering what life was all about.
I didn’t find it easy at school, not being very academic, but I loved music and dance. The local village Primary school that I attended catered for these activities well, but the transition to secondary school was not so fun.
On the first day of music class I sat in the front row excited to start something that I was good at, only to have the teacher glare at me and tell me not to expect much. Next lesson I was at the back and later dropped out.
Dance was on the curriculum, this will be the place for me to shine, but alas the teacher took one look at me and said you’re a gymnast not a dancer and proceeded to ignore me for the remaining years of my education. As time went on the only thing that stood out about me at school was my bleached blonde hair!
I did have one person believe in me at the age of 12, a young newly wed ballet and rhythmic gymnastic coach who opened up a new Rhythmic gym club in the village. Having gained her qualifications at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, she spotted me in the local gym club and ask me to join her RG club. She trained me tirelessly for 2 years, despite me having little external support. During that time I had opportunity to train with Viva Seifert who won two bronze medals in hoop and ribbon at the Commonwealth games in 1990. I personally became Regional Champion but as I got older and competition became stronger, and the emotional vacuum began to appear. I had to stop, but a seed was sown into my life and that young coach who believed I had something to bring to the world gave me hope.
In my heart I also harboured a dream that I could go the Royal Academy of Dance, just as my teacher had done.
What I learnt in that short time I later took to Italy, dancing on fashion catwalks and clubs. I lived what some might call the high life. High and low I would say. I did have some fun but it never lasted long. The bright lights and fame hid a dark and broken heart searching for somewhere to belong.
God called me out at the age of 23, took my gifts and talents, and made something very special. He really is the Master Craftsman. To take a broken young woman and shape her into a woman of God is something I still feel indescribably grateful for. It can only be called a miracle!
I married an amazing man of God and together we led a creative arts group in our Church. I picked music back up and started playing flute again, determined to gain my grades that I had failed so well at school. I very happily gained my grade 5 and played in the worship in team at Church.
When we moved to London as a family of four, I took my A level dance at the Royal Academy Dance, aged 34. My childhood dream came true! God was restoring all that had been stolen, and was truly giving me the desires of my heart.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4 KJV)
I enjoyed it so much that I went on to do a foundation degree in Dance Education with them.
Now qualified in Dance, I was not sure what to do next. My daughter now attended ballet classes at the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters. One day while I waited , I struck up a conversation with another mother whom I had never met before. She mentioned how they had looked for a rhythmic gymnastics clubs but there were none in our area at all. This gave me an idea!!
A few years later, after gaining the necessary qualifications, I started a Rhythmic gymnastics club in our local school, working with my daughter who was just 11 years old.
We developed a squad of girls who competed at local competitions and my daughter did what everyone had told me was impossible. She won the under 12 British Championships which launched her onto the international stage for Great Britain, competing for her country at European and World championships, and for Team England at the Gold Coast, Australia, in the Commonwealth Games 2018.
She later topped this off with Dancer of the Night on the British television flagship Saturday night show, ‘The Greatest Dancer.’
To be honest I had not started out with this as our mission, I thought my husband and I would continue planting and running Churches as we had been doing for over 15 years, but God had other plans.
We now run two businesses together, building and encouraging other Christian creatives to reach for their dreams. And it all began with a seed of hope planted in a young girl’s heart.
Never underestimate how powerful you are when you choose to believe in someone else, and seek to draw their God-given gifts to the surface!
* * *
Find Larna Martin on Instagram @christiancreativeacademy or @larnajanephotography
Larna is a wife and Mother of 4 talented individuals. She is an ordained Minister, and qualified Life coach, helping people reach for their dreams and break through their barriers.
Qualified RAD C of H E in Dance ED RAD, Larna is also a former Rhythmic gymnastics coach level 3/RG Reg Judge.
She is married to David Lee Martin, and together they serve King Jesus with every ounce of their being.