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...

TAP FACTORY

A rhythm-based production described as ‘Tap Dogs meets Stomp’, Tap Factory has enjoyed huge success around the world. 
The show sees eight internationally renowned male exponents of dance, gymnastics and acrobatics creating live music and choreography from all manner of every-day objects, including oil barrels, brooms and wood mallets.
The production stops off in Lichfield as part of its 10th-anniversary tour.

Lichfield Garrick, Friday 16 February

JAMES WILTON DANCE: THE FOUR SEASONS

The award-winning James Wilton’s choreography is always distinctive, his productions powered by an energy the audience can almost reach out and touch. 
James’ in-demand company previously scored a massive hit with Leviathan - a retelling of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick - which is widely considered to be the ensemble’s best and most finely tuned work to date. 
They here make a welcome return with The Four Seasons, a show which, using Max Richter’s recomposed version of Vivaldi’s seminal work, features the company’s signature blend of capoeira, acrobatics, martial arts and classical dance. 

Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 27 February

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  

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

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 

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