About Strictly Wheels Foundation
Strictly Wheels Foundation® aims to promote and inspire people to take up wheelchair dance as a social activity and at competitive levels. Its about “Ability not Disability”.
Our History
Strictly Wheels Foundation was founded by “Strictly Wheels”®– Paula Moulton and Gary Lyness. They are the UK’s first and only top class Latin Wheelchair Dance Sport couple and compete for Team GB in Para Dance at IPC Level.
Paula and Gary began dancing in February 2010. They then began training hard and later that year in August they took the chance to audition for Sky 1 – Got to Dance as “Strictly Wheels”. There was a fleeting appearance on the show where the judges gave them 3 Gold Stars to go on the shortlist – a fantastic achievement for a short period of dancing.
This inspired them to train harder which was rewarded when they competed for Great Britain at the Dutch Open Championships in April 2011. They took Gold Medal in the Amateur Latin Category – a massive achievement. They retained this title in 2012 and 2013, again a fantastic result to keep an international title for 3 years running.
In August 2013 they stepped up to top level and became the UK’s first IPC registered couple. They compete regularly for Great Britain in international competition. They achieved their best ranking in 2018 at 8th in the World in Latin and and 6th in Europe in Latin Combi 2 and Freestyle Combi 2.
They are passionate about wheelchair dancing and want to encourage as many people as possible to take up the activity.
Sadly Paula passed away in June 2023, however, our charity and our work will continue on in Paula’s legacy.
Foundation Launch
They are very proud to have launched the charity Strictly Wheels Foundation in March 2016. The charity works both locally in Manchester, providing classes for wheelchair dance, and continuing to promote and raise awareness of the sport throughout the UK. The charity can provide demonstrations, workshops, and performances.
The charity retains its name “Strictly Wheels” as a working name which is synonymous with wheelchair dance in the UK.
Our Trustees have a wealth of experience in both the public and private sector in Fundraising along with training, project management and health and fitness.
