Marathon bombing survivor performs on stage for first time with prosthetic leg

Adrianne Haslet-Davis dancing the rumba with her specially designed prosthetic leg. Credit: Ryan Lash/TED

Professional dancer and dance teacher Adrianne Haslet-Davis, who lost part of her leg in the Boston Marathon bombings last year, performed for the first time late last night at a TED conference in Canada.

Wearing the prosthetic leg made for her at MIT Media Lab, Haslet-Davis took to the stage to perform a rumba to Enrique Iglesias' "Ring My Bells", with dancer Christian Laightner.

The limb was designed by Hugh Herr from MIT Media Lab. Credit: Ryan Lash/TED

Her prosthetic leg was designed by Hugh Herr, director of the Biomechantronics group at MIT. Herr gave a presentation on his work designing what has been hailed as the first prosthetic leg specifically for dance.

Herr himself lost his legs at the age of 17 after a climbing accident.

Christian Laightner and Adrianne Haslet-Davis performing at the TED conference in Vancouver. Credit: Ryan Lash/TED

Speaking after the emotional performance, Haslet-Davis said she was thrilled to be able to dance again, and hoped her determination would inspire others. In a statement, she said: