Dancing Wheels: Art and Artists—A New Interpretation
- Performance
- Ticket Required
On Sale for Members: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
On Sale for General Public: Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Suzanne and Paul Westlake Performing Arts Center
Photo © Ken Blaze
About The Event
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.
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.
The views expressed by performers during this event are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Sponsors
The 2026–27 Performing Arts Series is sponsored by the Musart Society. This program is made possible in part by the Ernest L. and Louise M. Gartner Fund, the P. J. McMyler Musical Endowment Fund, and the Anton and Rose Zverina Music Fund.
The Cleveland Museum of Art is funded in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Performing arts programs are supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.
