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Introducing our champion for performing arts, Marc Brew
We are delighted to introduce you to Marc Brew, our new SIA champion for performing arts.
Marc Brew is an award-winning Australian performer, director and choreographer, based in the UK, whose work has been toured to critical acclaim across the world. After sustaining a spinal cord injury in 1997, Marc returned to dance, exploring movement using his wheelchair and paving the way for other disabled and non-disabled dancers.
“I was told after my Spinal Cord Injury that I would never walk again, let alone dance. I had to reassess what performance meant to me, and I realised that it was about creatively expressing myself through movement which I could still do.”
“Whilst it was different, I found beauty, possibility, resilience and strength through that. Throughout my life, society has told me that I cannot dance – whether that was during my upbringing as a boy from a working-class, single parent household, or after I acquired my disability. I’ve worked to prove people otherwise by advocating, championing and celebrating differences across the creative industries and wider society.”
“I want to use this opportunity as Spinal Injuries Associations’ Champion for Performing Arts to celebrate difference and encourage people to forge their own paths.”
Marc’s Bio
In 2015 he created Exalt the first integrated work for Indepen-dance and Scottish Ballet and For Now, I am.., chosen to be part of the first integrated Fringe program, amongst other work. His outdoor work (i)land was commissioned for the Glasgow 2014 Cultural programme and Without Walls.
Marc has also produced work for a number of high-profile companies such as AXIS Dance Theatre (USA), Candoco Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre, Touch Compass (NZ), Amy Seiwert’s Imagery (USA), The London Contemporary Dance School and YDance.
In 2024 Marc was named as an Arts & Film Big Lottery ‘Game Changer’, listed in both the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 as Performing Arts, Television and Radio winner and The List’s Hot 100-celebrating one hundred of the most influential Scottish cultural contributors; and nominated for two UK National Dance Awards: Outstanding Male Modern Performance and Best Modern Choreography (an Accident / a Life).
Marc has been presented with a Centenary Medal for Outstanding Contribution as a dancer and choreographer and in 2014 was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Performance (Individual) at the prestigious Isadora Duncan Awards for his solo piece Remember When.
For more information visit: www.marcbrew.com
Latest show: ‘Boy’s Don’t Dance’
The Marc Brew Company will be opening their new show ‘Boys Don’t Dance’, a commission from Edinburgh International Children’s Day, with previews at the Paisley Art Centre on 14/15 May 2026.
Performed by a talented cast of wheelchair and non-wheelchair dancers, combining movement with BMX, storytelling, lighting and an uplifting 80s soundtrack – alongside visual projections and animation to create an immersive audience experience.
Find out more and book here: www.marcbrew.com/whats-on/ | www.marcbrew.com/boysdontdance/
SIA champions represent our vision of a fulfilled life for everyone affected by spinal cord injury.
Experts in their own field, they share their knowledge, experience and achievements to educate and inspire others in diverse areas such as outdoor adventure, business and the arts. Each of our champions brings the SCI community together to support and encourage others with shared interests to prove that with the right support anything is possible.