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...

BALLET BLACK: SHADOWS

Comprising British and international dancers of black and Asian descent, Ballet Black takes an impressively daring approach to its work. 
Under the guidance of Artistic Director Cassa Pancho, the company is here making its Belgrade Theatre debut with an imaginative double-bill... 
First up is a darkly comic adaptation of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s bestselling novel My Sister, The Serial Killer. This is followed by the British choreographic debut of the Brooklyn-born Chanel DaSilva, whose piece explores the intense practice of shadow work, ‘and how it can reveal our true selves’.

Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Tuesday 4 November

JAIVANT PATEL COMPANY: ASTITVA

Wolverhampton dance ensemble Jaivant Patel Company’s latest show reflects the experiences of British Indian gay men through contemporary-dance storytelling.  Along the way, the production dives into four themes: seeking, desire, acceptance and love.
As Jaivant explains, one section of the piece is particularly important to him: “The one thing that I knew I definitely wanted out of this piece was a love duet. I knew that I wanted that, because I'd never seen a love duet between two brown Indian men. I wanted it to reflect representation, but I also wanted it to reflect a sense of hope.” 

Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Thursday 6 November; The Rep, Birmingham, Friday 21 & Saturday 22 November 

VINCENT SIMONE: TANGO PASSIONS

Vincent Simone is certainly not a man to let the grass grow under his ever-dancing feet. 
Always on the go, the Argentine tango king and Strictly Come Dancing legend is visiting the Midlands with this ‘sexy, steamy, passionate’ show just a matter of weeks after the end of the Return Of The Legends tour, in which he appeared with four fellow Strictly stars. 
Telling a tale of love and lust at the turn of the 20th century, Tango Passions comes complete with classic and modern Argentine tango music from the likes of Astor Piazzolla and Gotan Project. 

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Monday 10 November; Walsall Arena, Tuesdday 11 November; Lichfield Garrick, Sunday 15 February; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Tuesday 17 February; Albany Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 21 February

RHYTHM OF THE DANCE

Audiences are promised an evening of flailing fiddles and cracking choreography when popular touring show Rhythm Of The Dance visits the Midlands this month with a special Christmas-themed edition. 
Featuring award-winning world and Irish dance champions and a traditional band of multi-instrumentalist musicians, the show is now in its 27th year and has been seen by more than seven million people across the world.

Malvern Theatres, Friday 14 November; The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Thursday 27 November

BALLET THEATRE UK: A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Christmas story would one day be performed as a ballet... 
But why shouldn’t it be? And particularly in an era which has seen such unusual subject matter as Peaky Blinders and the music of Black Sabbath being given the dance treatment. 
‘Festive carols, breathtaking costumes and stunning choreography’ are the order of the day as the ever-imaginative Ballet Theatre UK travel back in time to a traditional Victorian Christmas.  

Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa, Saturday 22 November  

FABRIC: MATHROO BASHA

Hetain Patel blends choreography with text and popular culture to produce work which explores the subjects of identity and freedom. In Mathroo Basha, the critically acclaimed visual artist & filmmaker uses movement and audio interviews to explore the topic of generational change in his Brit-Gujarati family. The piece sees Hetain revisit rituals rooted in their working-class experience, in the process reflecting on ‘what is lost and what is transformed’... 
Performed in English and Gujarati, the show  is followed by a free talk. 

Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome, Thursday 27 November