Crutch

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

When life gives you lemons you make lemonade or, in Bill Shannon’s case, a new form of art. Directed by Sachi Cunningham and Vayabobo, the film Crutch details the story and rise of Bill Shannon’s career as a skateboarder and dancer while battling a debilitating disease. And, above all else, it shows that anything is possible no matter your limitations.

Diagnosed in childhood with a degenerative hip disease called Legg Calvé Perthes, Bill Shannon is delegated to live his life requiring crutches to get around. But rather than be limited by those crutches, Shannon utilized his impairment and literal crutch(es) to his advantage. Creating new techniques and ways to use his crutches in innovative ways, he not only developed a new method to skateboard but also his own style of dance in the process. Yet the story doesn’t end quite there. Because of his skills in dancing, Shannon then begins to make a name for himself in the breakdance scene and begins to enter competitions and choreograph for such acclaimed shows as Cirque du Soleil—eventually becoming an international dance artist and later mentoring children with similar disabilities to his own.

Cunningham and Vayabobo not only bring light to Shannon’s career and hope for those who refuse to be hindered by their disabilities, but also the struggles that can be incurred to overcome those roadblocks. Shannon pushed and persevered to create beauty in his work and embraces his imperfections in a way that many of us wish we could. He also does not shy away from the harder moments either, showing that there were just as many stumbles as successes.

But in those stumbles Shannon continued to get up and keep working on the art and nuances in his dancing until he got it right—even then still pushing himself harder to be the best in something only he can really do. Most important, Shannon is unapologetic and makes it a point to bring awareness to his disability to those around him—for this he becomes about more than just his art.

What also plays to the strength of Crutch is that it is a film that has been made over the span of two decades. Getting the chance to spend time with a subject as intensely devoted to his craft as Bill Shannon allowed the creators to not only film the journey but go along on the ride with their subject. I felt that this made Crutch a much more authentic and powerful documentary, showcasing more of Shannon’s raw talent and the beauty in his rare artistic expression rather than just a story of overcoming adversity.

Bill Shannon has never let his limitations do anything but inspire him. His crutches have molded him and made him strive to rise above in order to create a talent that only Shannon is capable of executing. And in a world where we all seek to find something we are good at; we could all take a page from Shannon’s playbook.

For more information on Crutch please visit http://www.crutchdoc.com.