Choreographer sues West End firm over severe leg injury ending dance career
A Dancer’s Tragic Fall and Legal Battle
Kylie Hayes, a 41-year-old choreographer known for her work on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, is now embroiled in a legal battle after suffering a severe injury during rehearsals for a West End production of 42nd Street. The incident has not only changed her life but also ended her career as a professional dancer.
Hayes, who worked on Strictly for 12 seasons, was responsible for coaching celebrities such as Alan Titchmarsh, Jeremy Vine, and Caroline Flack. Her expertise extended to various West End productions, including Evita, Follies, and Top Hat. However, her career came to an abrupt halt when she fell off a stage during rehearsals, resulting in a serious leg injury that left her unable to dance competitively again.
The incident occurred in May 2023 while Hayes was working on the UK production of 42nd Street at the Curve Theatre in Leicester. She described the moment as being in "pitch black" conditions when she fell after temporary steps were moved. The fall caused a tear in the musculotendinous junction of her left leg, a critical area connecting her Achilles tendon and calf muscle. This injury led to months of recovery and ultimately forced her to leave the world of professional dance behind.
The Impact on Her Life
For Hayes, dance was more than just a career—it was her identity. She began dancing at the age of two and spent over 20 years immersed in the world of performance. The accident shattered her sense of self and left her feeling like she had lost a part of herself.
“I live for the stage, the buzz, the excitement, the audience,” she said. “To me, not dancing is like having an amputation. I can’t use my feet anymore for what I was born to do.”
After the fall, Hayes was forced to watch the show from the sidelines, using painkillers to manage the discomfort. When she finally stood up, her leg collapsed beneath her, leaving her in a state of shock and disbelief. She described the sensation as if her leg had turned into “jelly” or a “heavy bag of marbles.”
Doctors diagnosed her with a severe tear above her Achilles tendon and prescribed a boot that she had to wear 24/7 for three months. During this time, she struggled emotionally and physically, relying on her husband, Simon, for support. She couldn't walk, shop, or even take care of her dog, Nellie, which added to the emotional toll.
Legal Action and New Beginnings
Despite her efforts to recover, Hayes eventually realized that her career as a professional dancer was over. She and her business partner, Bill Deamer, had been a successful team for nearly two decades, but he soon replaced her for upcoming projects. This realization hit her hard, leading her to take legal action against the theatre company, 42nd Street 2023 Ltd.
The company has admitted liability for the accident, though no damages have been determined yet. Emma Mazurkiewicz, an accident specialist at Express Solicitors handling the case, emphasized the severity of Hayes’ situation: “Kylie was one of the fittest dancers in the West End. But her whole career came crashing down when she fell off stage.”
Today, Hayes works as a receptionist and massage therapist at the Mole spa resort near her home in Devon. While she misses the glitz and glamour of the West End, she has found peace in her new routine.
“I love it here,” she said. “It doesn’t have the glitz and glamour of Strictly or the West End buzz, but there’s something more precious—authentic friends, walks on the beach with my dog Nellie, and no stress.”
Though her journey has been difficult, Hayes has come to terms with her new chapter. She still watches Strictly Come Dancing and can recognize routines she once helped create. For her, the show must go on—but so must she.
