The Concordes have been dancing in wheelchairs since the 1970s. Members have come and gone, but our vision has stayed the same – to enjoy the fun and exercise of dancing. After all, why shouldn’t disabled people get to dance just the same as the able-bodied? That’s why we also dance PHAB – which means “Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied” (or “seats and feet”, as we sometimes call it!). Every Monday night from 7.15pm, we dance socially and also practice for demonstrations, events and competitions – when we compete, we’re there to win (demonstrated by a strong record in national competitions and festivals), but it’s not all shouting teachers and muttered cursing. (Which is not to say that doesn’t happen, too!)
We currently have nine dancers in wheelchairs, and six able-bodied dancers – between us making up a team in wheelchairs, a PHAB team, and several who enter competitions and demonstration events in couples (both in wheelchairs and mixed).