If dance is an expression of the human spirit, then it is best expressed by people of all abilities. That is the fundamental belief behind the Dancing Wheels Company & School. Considered one of the premier arts and disabilities organizations in the US, Dancing Wheels is a professional, physically integrated dance company uniting the talents of dancers both with and without disabilities. This evening, Dancing Wheels Company members present new works based on art and images from the Cleveland Museum of Art. All choreographic works feature various genres of music and are in the style and 45-year tradition of physically integrated dance that Dancing Wheels revolutionized. Choreographers Zachary Biggs Angelina DiFranco Emilyann Dustman Kylie Karam Sara Lawrence-Sucato Alexandra Martinez DeMarco Sleeper Nehemiah Spencer More About Dancing Wheels Company: Mary Verdi-Fletcher, the first professional wheelchair dancer in the US, founded the Dancing Wheels Company in Cleveland in 1980. Born with spina bifida, Mary wanted to offer others with disabilities full and equal access into the world of dance. An almost unimaginable concept at the time, Mary’s vision and passion have since helped to revolutionize our very notion of dance—as well as what defines a dancer. To date, the Dancing Wheels Company’s inspirational mission has touched over 6.5 million people through performances, school assemblies, residencies, and workshops. Millions more have enjoyed the company’s artistry via appearances on CNN, Good Morning America, and the TV special Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope. Now part of Professional Flair Inc., a 501(c)(3) arts and disabilities organization, Dancing Wheels continues to travel the globe, advocating for disability awareness and entertaining 30,000–50,000 people each year. With a repertoire of 90 works from nationally esteemed choreographers and a message of inclusion and accessibility, the company continually expands the reach of artistic possibilities while celebrating the universal spirit of dance.
