A group of performers on a stage. One strides through the centre holding a pride flag above their head.

Celebrating Expressions

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3 December 2024

Today is International Day of Disabled People - a day all about promoting the rights and wellbeing of disabled people in all areas of life. What better day to shine a light on the joy that is Expressions, our inclusive dance festival where professional and community groups perform at our Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre.

Launched in 2013, after 11 wonderful years we've had 28 performances with over 1,200 performers and there's no stopping us now as each year the festival is bigger and better than the one before.

With such a vibrant dance community in Yorkshire, there are many fantastic community dance platforms but many aren't accessible for disabled dancers, so we have dancers from across the UK travel to perform with us. Professional dance companies such as Candoco, TIN Arts and Casson and Friends perform alongside community groups. Our own Ability dancers have performed in Expressions every single year and we've also had performances from In Motion, Phoenix Dance Theatre's Illuminate, Ascendance's Fuse Dance Collective, DAZL, Mesh Dance and Mind the Gap to name just a few.

Dancers on a blue stage hold hands as they dance.
Two dancers in wheelchairs stand side by side, facing opposite directions. They lean towards each other raising an arm to touch fingers.
A dancer stands on one knee, leaning forward and holding his hat on his head. A white silhouette of himself can be seen on a red screen behind him
A dancer in black hands a tambourine to another dancer in a wheelchair.
A dancer in a wheelchair holds a long red piece of fabric against a red backdrop. The other end of the fabric is held by another dancer who leans backwards on the other side of the stage.
A dancer in pyjamas closes her eyes and sways her arms in front of her. Two other dancers in pyjamas can be seen touching hands behind her.
A group of dancers on an orange stage raise their hands.

'A true celebration of inclusive dance. [We value] The opportunity to watch such a range of work…providing clearly modelled career pathways into the arts for our students.'

Community group leader, Expressions 2024

'I come away every year feeling fulfilled, inspired, happy, part of something and grateful that you do this for people like me every year and remind me that me and my family are not alone'

Performer, Expressions 2024

This project is part funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). In West Yorkshire, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority leads the implementation of the Fund as part of the Mayor's ambition to make West Yorkshire the best place to work, learn and live.

Funded by UK Government
West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Tracy Brabin Mayor of West Yorkshire