Dave Toole
{{Short description|British dancer and actor (1964–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dave Toole
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 31 July 1964[https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/oct/28/david-toole-obituary The Guardian: David Toole obituary]
| death_date = 16 October 2020 (aged 56)
| birth_place = Leeds, England
| nationality = British
| alma_mater =
| occupation = dancer, actor
| organization =
| known_for = performance in opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics
| honorific_suffix = OBE
}}
Dave Toole {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (31 July 1964 – 16 October 2020) was a British dancer and actor. He was well known for his performance in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics.{{Cite news |date=24 April 2013 |title=Paralympic ceremony dancer Dave Toole hits new heights |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-22265594 |access-date=20 October 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103151400/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-22265594 |url-status=live }} He died on 16 October 2020 at the age of 56.
Biography
Toole was born with sacral agenesis. His lower spine and legs had not developed properly during gestation and his legs were amputated when he was around 18 months old.{{Cite web |title=Paralympics 2012 dance star David Toole dies aged 56 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/paralympics-2012-dance-star-david-toole-dies-aged-56-12107790 |access-date=20 October 2020 |website=Sky News |language=en}}
Career
After working at a post office for nearly nine years, he shifted to London and pursued his career as a performance dancer in 1993 with the Candoco Dance Company. He also later worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and then worked with the Stop Gap Dance Company for over ten years. He also had a stint with the DV8 Physical Theatre.{{Cite web |title=David Toole: I incorporated tricks I used around the house into my dance {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/david-toole-enormous-room-dancer-disabled_42966.html |access-date=20 October 2020 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021130103/https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/david-toole-enormous-room-dancer-disabled_42966.html |url-status=live }} He also acted in a few films including Amazing Grace and The Tango Lesson. His most notable performance came during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London where he delivered ballet persuaded solo dance performance as he was hoisted up into the air around 22m above the ballet dance floor. The performance was well received and highly appreciated by the viewers.{{Cite news |date=18 October 2020 |title=Paralympics 2012 opening ceremony dancer Dave Toole dies |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-54590167 |access-date=20 October 2020 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019025149/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-54590167 |url-status=live }} He also performed in 2012 International Dance Festival in Birmingham in collaboration.{{Cite news |title=David Toole on challenging dance |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-17892644 |access-date=20 October 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103064423/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-17892644 |url-status=live }} In 2013, he also performed in a show titled The Johnny Eck and Dave Toole where he narrated the story of the actor Johnny Eck of the 1930s.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to dance and people with disabilities.{{Cite web |title=Leeds dancer who had legs amputated at 18-months-old and performed for Princess Diana honoured with OBE |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/leeds-dancer-who-had-legs-amputated-18-months-old-and-performed-princess-diana-honoured-obe-1352104 |access-date=20 October 2020 |website=www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026080304/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/leeds-dancer-who-had-legs-amputated-18-months-old-and-performed-princess-diana-honoured-obe-1352104 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Arts professionals recognised in New Year honours |url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/arts-professionals-recognised-new-year-honours-0 |access-date=20 October 2020 |website=ArtsProfessional |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=nm1953162}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toole, Dave}}
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Male actors from Leeds
Category:Sportspeople from Leeds
Category:English male stage actors