As a champion for disabled arts, I was looking forward to seeing Bill Shannon breakdance his way through gravity-defying routines using his crutches and a skateboard.

However, a car accident the week before his show at the Clocktower meant the man known as Crutchmaster was forced to take a back seat in his own show while other breakdancers took centre stage.

As disappointing as it was not to see Shannon himself demonstrate some of his stunts on his specially-adapted walking aid, Sketchy, at Braithwaite Halls last Wednesday, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable show.

Hip-hop influenced street dancing was turned into a graceful artform by a collective of dancers, flown in from across the pond to fill in the gaps where Shannon could not perform.

Video footage was also shown of Shannon performing some of his stunts on streets in Russia and New York.

One particularly amusing trick saw an elderly woman rushing to aid Shannon as he feigned difficulty climbing stairs with his crutches. However, by the time they reached the top of the stairs, he was guiding her.

The few moves Shannon was able to perform were awe-inspiring. At times he resembled a string puppet, hanging effortlessly from his crutches an inch or two above the floor.

Shannon's degenerative hip disease forced him on to crutches when he was five, but he learned to use them for stunts and dance moves.

He not only went on to become a renowned breakdancer but also a choreographer for the world-famous acrobatic dance troupe Cirque du Soleil, winning acclaim from the dance and disabled community.

Watching Shannon's remarkable achievements not only inspires those with disabilities, but makes you feel almost anything is achievable when you put your mind to it.