Born to Dance

A beautiful picture book biography about the first professional wheelchair dancer, Mary Verdi Fletcher, who changed the rules of dance and helped make it accesible to all.

Born to Dance tells the true story of Mary Verdi-Fletcher, who was born with spina bifida and dreamed of being a dancer from a very young age. When Mary’s parents introduced her to music, her unsinkable love of dance flourished—and she vowed she would not be limited by her disability.

But the world needed to catch up. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was unheard of to see a wheelchair user on stage with a dance company. But Mary persevered, and she ultimately redefined what it means to be a dancer—founding the groundbreaking Dancing Wheels Company, where people of all abilities perform together.

This beautifully written and empowering biography of Mary’s life celebrates determination, creativity and the power of believing in yourself.