Make 2015 Your Year to Dance

Wheelchair dance is growing at all levels across the UK and the national association has announced a bumper programme of events for 2015.

As well as regional taster days there will be three official wheelchair dance competitons during the year, not to mention regular activities undertaken by 16 local wheelchair dance clubs.  Add to this a glitzy ‘Strictly’ fundraising event and you’ll soon see why there’s such a buzz about wheelchair dance at the moment.

Wheelchair Dance 2015 Programme

The growing programme of events and activities is coordinated by the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (UK), in partnership with Sport England and Allied Mobility.

Taster sessions offer a great way to do just that – get a taste of wheelchair dance and all that it can offer people of all abilities.   This month sees several tasters on the go:

January Wheelchair Dance Taster Sessions

Watford (20th January)

Sheffield (24th January)

Saffron Walden (25th January)

Letchworth (31st January)

Look out for further wheelchair dance beginner events during the year, including a Northampton Taster Session on 28th February and the Oxfordshire Have a Go day on 3rd March.

You can also see demonstrations and meet people from the Association at the National Sports Roadshow in Leeds, on 30th January and MOVE IT – the UK’s biggest dance event – which takes place at Olympia, in London, from 13th to 15th February.  The team will be out in force again at Coventry, on 19th March, taking part in the popular Kidz in the Middle disability exhibition, together with Kidz South, in Reading, on 4th June and Kidz Scotland, in Edinburgh, on 17th September.

National Competitions

The three newly announced national wheelchair dance-offs include two beginners’ events – ‘Debutante Competitions’.  The first will be held down at Weymouth Pavilions on 7th March and the other at Kiddermister Town Hall, on 25th July.

The climax of the season, as far as cometitive wheelchair dance is concerned, will take place at the famous Stoke Mandeville hospital, in Buckinghamshire, on 31st October, with the National Wheelchair Dance Competition.

Strictly Having Fun

The Wheelchair Dance Sport Association, again with support from Allied Mobility, will also be hosting an ambitious fundraising event this year, Wheel Come Dancing!  Inspired by the hit BBC TV series, Strictly Come Dancing, the event promises to be an exciting evening of competition and dance, topped off with a fabulous three course meal.  Wheel Come Dancing takes place at the Auction House, in Luton, on Friday, 19th June.  For tickets and to support this great cause, please click Wheel Come Dancing here.

Encouraging Growth

It’s certainly a busy year ahead for the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (WDSA).

Ballroom & Latin Director, Christa Udell, said: “WDSA (UK) has been working hard over the last few years to get more people to be active in this sport.

“Alongside this, our competitions are ensuring that we can develop more couples to compete at regional, national and international levels of Wheelchair Dance Sport Competition.”

The growth of wheelchair dance sport in the UK has enabled stars like Paula Mouton and Gary Lyness to compete as a Great Britain couple at international events.  WDSA is determined both to engage more people to be active in the sport and to access funding to support couples like Paula and Gary as they compete for Team GB in future competitions.

Something for Everyone

Competitive events are open to spectators so members of the public can see the top performers in this amazing sport and the dedication of its athletes to the competition.  So whether it’s a regional taster session or one of the national competitions, why not come along and find out what wheelchair dancing is all about.

For more information on wheelchair dance competitions and the full calendar of events, contact the WDSA (UK) team on 0300 111 3045, email info@wdsauk.co.uk or clickwheelchair dance events 2015 here.