The Dancing Wheels

The Dancing Wheels Company is the first integrated modern dance company to utilize both stand up and sit down dancers. Mary Verdi-Fletcher started the company in 1980. She was born with spina bifida and later became the first professional wheelchair dancer in the US. 

 Mary wanted to demonstrate how people with disabilities could access and have prominence in the world of dance. Now the dancing wheels perform all over the world, and continue to educate others about the positive effects dance can have on people with perceived limitations. 

She, along with the other members of her company use innovative choreography to develop stories to tell through movement. They have a large repertoire that ranges from story ballets to rhythm and movement set to music.

Here is an example of the Dancing Wheels work. Unfortunately I could not embed any of their professional performances, but this will give some insight into what it is they do. 

Ultimately, my feelings about the Dancing Wheels can be summed up by the following picture...