Wheelchair dance company announces new autumn tour

Birmingham-based Propel Dance, the UK’s first and only professional wheelchair dance company, has announced a new autumn tour of Momentum.

The landmark showcase celebrates the show artistry and excitement of disability dance.

Following £54,931 of investment from Arts Council England, Propel Dance will tour Momentum to four venues from November 2026 to February 2027, in what will be the company's biggest tour to date.

Featuring seven short works, Momentum brings together solos, duets and a quartet in a dynamic programme that showcases the full range of Propel Dance's talent.

The production blends contemporary dance with para dance sport technique to create work that is athletic, artistic and unmissable.

The tour will open at Fletchers Theatre, Nottingham College on 4 November, before visiting mac Birmingham on 11 November, the Terry O'Toole Theatre in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire on 5 December, and Warwick Arts Centre on 19 February 2027.

Alongside Propel Dance's five company members, the programme will feature a guest professional disabled artist, while a local inclusive or community dance group at each venue will perform a curtain raiser ahead of the main show.

Returning company members include Rebecca Fowler from Birmingham and Lauren Russell from Leicestershire, joined by Jay Whitehead, Poppy Jones, and Katie McConnell, three new young dancers representing the next generation of disabled dance artists.

Co-directors Helen Mason and Amy Dalton-Hardy said: “We want every performance to feel like a celebration. The work is joyful, powerful and full of energy, but what makes this tour particularly special is that every venue will also welcome a guest disabled artist and a local community group to the stage.

“We're incredibly proud to be creating space for more disabled dancers, at every stage of their journey, and we can't wait to share Momentum with audiences."