Meet the Dancer Who Lost His Leg to Childhood Cancer but Didn’t Let It Stop Him From Pursuing His Dream

Musa Motha, a 27-year-old amputee dancer from South Africa, caused a wave of awe and inspiration when he took the stage on Britain’s Got Talent. Musa, who lost a leg to childhood cancer, turned his situation into a burning passion for dance, impressing the judges and audience with his stunning performances.

Motha used to be a soccer player before he received his diagnosis.

Musa Motha grew up in Sebokeng, an underdeveloped area of Johannesburg, South Africa. Although his surroundings were far from perfect, there was a makeshift soccer field across the street from his home. For Motha, this was “paradise,” he said.

Unfortunately, the boy was diagnosed with cancer at a young age, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg, dashing his hopes of becoming a professional soccer player. But instead of letting his new reality defeat him, the young Musa chose to confront it head-on. Rather than focusing on what he had lost, he found comfort in the rhythm and melodies of music, using them as a source of strength and motivation.

“After my amputation, I fell in love with music. My friends were dancing at that time and I asked them to teach me how to dance,” he told the judges. “I used my left crutch as my left leg, and that is how it started.”

His performance stole the hearts of both the judges and those who watched.

Recently, Motha has captured the hearts of Britain with his dancing on the Britain’s Got Talent stage. Judge Simon Cowell remarked that he had never seen the audience react so strongly before. Every single person, including the judges, rose to their feet for a prolonged standing ovation.

Although the rules stated that each judge could only use their golden buzzer once, an extraordinary situation called for an exceptional solution. The judges gave in to the audience’s persistent demands and all four pressed their golden buzzers simultaneously. This marked the first time in the history of Britain’s Got Talent that a group golden buzzer was awarded.

Motha wants others to show their talents too.

In the interview, Motha said that he has a dream of not only being known as a dancer but also creating a space for others with disabilities to explore their passions, whether it be soccer or singing. He believes that by increasing representation, access and inclusion will follow, allowing individuals with disabilities to showcase their talents.

“Instead of telling a sob story, I find that the most beautiful stories are after (the amputation),” Motha said. He encourages others with disabilities to do anything they set their minds to, saying, “There’s a whole lot of things that you can overcome that actually define how strong you are.”

Talent shows are amazing places to discover ordinary people with extraordinary talents. For example, another 11-year-old girl who performed on America’s Got Talent could sing opera in 8 different languages!