The West Midlands is one of the UK’s biggest and best dance hubs, with venues hosting everything from classical ballets to snake-hipped Strictly stars strutting their samba stuff. Here’s a selection of productions hot-shoe shuffling their way into the region over the next few weeks...

NORTHERN BALLET: THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE

Leeds-based Northern Ballet has developed a reputation for producing work which focuses not only on dancing but also on storytelling - a fact very much in evidence in its latest production for little ones. 
The Tortoise And The Hare has been specially designed to provide an enjoyable and absorbing experience for young children who are sampling live ballet, music and theatre for the very first time.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 28 February; Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Sunday 24 March  

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ONE/BIRD

“Since the ice age,” begins Amina Khayyam, in talking about her solo show, One, “our pre-historic ancestors have been crossing continents to find better habitual climates so that we, homo sapiens, got the chance to evolve to what we are now. Today we are doing no different - displaced by climate change, war, political extortion and many other reasons, many of us are following that same human trait: cross continents to survive or better ourselves. 
“Yet ‘migrants’, ‘foreigners’, ‘refugees’ are words tarnished ‘dirty’ and ‘negative’ by the media, and harboured by politicians for political gain. 
“[In One] I delve into the wealth and power of Kathak to portray the journey of migrants and refugees within that cyclic phenomenon all of us are all journeying.”
The production is accompanied by Bird, a show which poses a question that crosses the minds of many women stuck in abusive relationships: “Where will I go?”

Patrick Centre, Birmingham Hippodrome, Wednesday 28 - Thursday 29 February

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40/40 BY KATHERINE RADEVA

Award-winning performance maker and visual artist Katherina Radeva describes her critically acclaimed 40/40 show as an inspiring, insightful and moving celebration of her 40 years as a woman, a migrant and an artist... The production takes its audience on a journey through Kat’s life, from long-ago days spent dancing at her parents’ student parties, through her experience of being body-shamed as a teenage rhythm gymnast, to the present day, when she defines herself as a creative who refuses to be categorised. 

Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Friday 8 & Saturday 9 March 

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GIOVANNI PERNICE

Persistent rumours of a rift between Giovanni and his 2023 Strictly dance partner, Amanda Abbington - who quit the show mid-series but didn’t explain why - has seen the Bafta-winning Italian taking up more than his fair share of column inches over the last couple of months. 

Now Giovanni is out on the road again, doing what he does best in a brand-new dance extravaganza. He’s joined for the occasion by a talented cast of professional dancers and West End performers.   

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 12 March; Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thursday 4 April; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 5 April 

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SAO PAULO DANCE COMPANY

It’s ‘Brazilian sunshine time’ in Wolverhampton mid-month, courtesy of a triple bill from first-time visitors São Paulo Dance Company. 

The talented ensemble have produced more than 100 classical and contemporary works since forming 16 years ago, in the process touring to nearly 20 countries and performing in front of 900,000-plus people.
“São Paulo is a dance company with a very special Brazilian accent,” explains Artistic Director Inês Bogéa. “We have the passion for dance, we have the energy of Brazil, and we love to share that with audiences around the world.

“In the programme that we’re presenting here, the choreographers are trying to reflect on stage what we are all feeling in this moment of our lives. They create a unique world through the movements, the connections with the music, and the images that they evoke...

“We are open to sharing ideas and sensations, and we aim to meet people and understand different ways of looking at our world and our time. So we are looking forward to showing audiences a little bit of our culture, and through the dance we will all feel the energy of Brazil.” 

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Friday 15 & Saturday 16 March

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DIVERSITY

With numerous sell-out tours under their belt, it’s fair to say Diversity have made the most of their Susan Boyle-beating success on Britain’s Got Talent 15 years ago.

The London-based street-dance crew are this month and next visiting the Midlands region with latest offering Supernova. Extremely well received on its mammoth 66-date tour across 40 towns and cities, the production differs somewhat from previous Diversity shows in the sense that it follows a storyline. 

The group is using the tour to support anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust, with audience members being invited to bring along food donations to the shows.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 20 & Thursday 21 March; The Halls Wolverhampton, Saturday 6 April  

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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

Having earned an enviable reputation for presenting innovative and magical productions, it’s reasonable to assume that Ballet Theatre UK will once again be striking all the right notes with this currently touring dance version of the classic Shakespeare comedy... Expect impressive choreography - set to the iconic Mendelssohn score - and a wardrobe’s worth of beautiful costumes.  

Albany Theatre, Coventry, Thursday 21 March    

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AN EVENING WITH ANTON DU BEKE & FRIENDS

It’s a busy old time for Anton Du Beke. Not only is he sitting in judgement on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants every weekend, he’s also out on the road with his latest show. This one sees the fleet-of-foot legend team up with his dancers, a live band and guest singer Lance Ellington to present an evening of song, dance and laughter. Behind-the scenes stories from his time on Strictly will also feature...

Seriously, what’s not to like?

Lichfield Garrick, Monday 29 April; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 30 April