We love collaborative work; bringing together repertoire, improvisation and tap in a contemporary context. From jams to ceilidhs, we create spaces for rhythm and connection.
Our work ranges from site-responsive performances to co-created festival commissions, rooted in storytelling, live music and tap dance.
Current Projects
Jazz Tap Jam
2025
Join Sole Rebel for our monthly Jazz Tap Jam — a space where dancers, musicians, and listeners come together to explore the deep connection between tap dance and live jazz.
Each month, our house band — featuring some of Liverpool’s most exciting jazz musicians — sets the groove. Dancers of all levels are welcome to share the floor, trade rhythms, or simply soak up the music.
Expect swinging standards, Latin grooves, blues, and original compositions — all sparking spontaneous conversations between feet and instruments. Whether you come to dance, play, or just enjoy, you’ll be part of something that keeps jazz and tap alive and evolving.
Sole Rebel Youth Tap Dance Company
2025
A new youth tap dance company designed for young people based in Liverpool and the North West. Teachers include Artistic Director Hannah Ballard, Sole Rebel Dance company members, and guest artists. Weekly training in tap dance technique, traditional tap dance repertory, new choreography, musicality, working with musicians, improvisation, tap history & more!
Training & Performance Company 2025
2025
This training program develops homegrown talent & bridges the gap between training & professional careers. Sole Rebel C.I.C are excited to be running our Training & Performance Company for the fourth year in 2025.
We are inviting passionate tap dancers to join us for a tap dance training that delves deeper, with a world class faculty of artists and various opportunities to work alongside musicians and perform at festivals & events throughout the UK.
A collective of likeminded tap artists who train and perform together. As a group we are dedicated to developing tap dance, working with live music and supporting each other on our journeys as artists.
UNESCO City of music – Jazz Relay
2025
For International Jazz Day, Liverpool joined the 2025 Jazz Day Relay in collaboration with 21 UNESCO Cities of Music from the Creative Cities Network
Us Again
2025
Commissioned by Leap Dance Festival and Culture Liverpool for Leap 2025.
Produced by Sole Rebel C.I.C
Grounded Thread
2024
Grounded Thread is a new collaborative project making original compositions.
Georgina Aasgaard (Cello)
Hannah Ballard (Tap)
Alex McDowall (Guitar)
Pablo Sonnaillon (Double Bass)
The Sole ReBelles
2024
A collective of singers & dancers presenting jazz songs to bring a unique, classy touch to any event.
In Time
2024
We flock. We swoop. We travel across time and space.
Surrounded by sound and movement, we journey through the seasons—together.
Boogie Days & Boogie Nights
2023
Boogie Days and Boogie Nights are brought to you by Sole Rebel and Holistic Harmonies.
We run regular discos, family discos and grown-ups only discos, providing a space for you, to be together and to connect creatively. Let go of the week, destress and have fun.
Sole Rebel is larky, sexy, a bit rough at the edges and irresistibly likeable.
— Luke Jennings, Observer
Past Projects
Blues & Shoes
2018
- Concept & Performance: Hannah Ballard, Karen Wynne
- Dancer: Hannah Ballard
- Music: Karen Wynne
Blues & Shoes tells stories and aims to lift the spirits through well known blues songs, tap, piano, guitar and voice.
Rooted re-Routed
2019
- Concept & Direction: Hannah Ballard
- Sound & Music: Karen Wynne
- Performers: Hannah Ballard, Daniela B Larsen, Lauren Tucker
A commission layering feet, voice, breath and beats for Leap Festival 2019, performed at the metropolitan cathedral, Liverpool.
Our Community Shim Sham
2020
- Performers: Our company, students, collaborators
- Editing: Emily O'Shea
The Shim Sham is regarded as Tap dance’s national anthem, passed on and shared through generations. It is also performed by the Swing dance and Lindy hop communities.
Off The Beaten Track
2020
- Concept: Sole Rebel, Sean Kempton
- Director: Sean Kempton
- Producer: Claire Bigley
- Designer: Stephanie O'Hara
- Sound & Music: Chris Redmond
- Performers: Hannah Ballard, Lexi Bradburn, Chris Redmond
Before every journey you look at a map, ask for directions, or at least check to see if you’re wearing the right pants, right? Apart from for the biggest journey of all…LIFE!
Blushed
2016
- Creation: Hannah Ballard, Lexi Bradburn
- Dramaturg: William Hartley
- Production Manager: Sean Bruno
In turns anarchic, wonderful and wonky, these stories explore dated ideals through the eyes of modern-day adulthood.
Spatterdash
2015
- Creation: Hannah Ballard, Lexi Bradburn
- Performers: Hannah Ballard, Lexi Bradburn, Helen Duffy
- Music: Jamie Howe, the Chicken Bros.
A smart, sophisticated trio of tap dancers, in a full-to-the-brim, energetic and colourful show to an electro-swing soundtrack.
Every Grain
2014
- Choreography: Hannah Ballard, Lexi Bradburn
- Rehearsal Director: Katie Ballard
- Performers: Vicki Bailey, Hannah Ballard, Lexi Bradburn, Helen Duffy, Marie-Louise Flexen, Kara Fogerty, Daniela B Larsen, Anna Llombart, Kim Noble
With playsuits and well-known music from the era, this is an uplifting and popular show with appeal to people of all ages
The Pulse
2013
- Creation: Hannah Ballard, Emma Goodwin
- Filmography: Urban Conceptz
A collaboration between professional dancers and homeless people, delivered by Oxford Dance Forum as part of the ‘Home-Bed’ professional development programme.
Tapestry
2012
- Choreography: Hannah Ballard
- Composer & Performer: Debian Blak
- Performers: Vicki Bailey, Hannah Ballard, Katie Ballard, Lexi Bradburn, Marie Louise Flexen, Kara Fogerty
- Artistic Mentor: Simeon Weedall
A collaboration with musician and composer Debian Blak, featuring live music and an original soundtrack.
Step in Time
2011
- Choreography & Adaption: Hannnah Ballard
- Assistant Choreography: Katie Ballard
- Performers: Vicki Bailey, Hannah Ballard, Katie Ballard, Lexi Bradburn, Lauren Brooke, Rebecca Coates, Emily Davey, Kara Fogerty, Cheryl Heuston, Claire Lydon-Strutt, Sarah Stead, Livvy Cross
Sole Rebel takes the audience on a journey of Tap Dance, with great respect and inspiration from the Tap legends Bill Bojangles Robinson, Eleanor Powell, Gene Kelly and many more. Step in Time celebrates the artistry and joy of tap dance in the collective and the individual.