Jen Blackwell is the founder and Creative Director of DanceSyndrome, an inclusive dance charity based in the United Kingdom. Jen’s dream of becoming a community dance trainer was threatened after she left school at 16 and discovered there were no suitable training programs for people with disabilities. So, she created one! The team of DanceSyndrome strives to continue to provide exciting and new opportunities for individuals who might be excluded from mainstream dance and media.
This week, we had the opportunity to interview Jen Blackwell as we spoke about her inspiration behind the creation of this initiative, and how individuals can get involved with the Dance Syndrome.
Interviewer: How did DanceSyndrome come into being?
Jen Blackwell: I started DanceSyndrome 10 years ago with the support of my mum and dad, I couldn’t have done it without their support. I am very proud of what DanceSyndrome has achieved.
I started this charity to help other people like me who couldn’t access opportunities in dance because they had a learning disability.
I always feel so proud when I see my friends living a life in dance because I know that my charity has helped them to follow their dreams.
Interviewer: Can you tell us more about your role in DanceSyndrome?
Jen Blackwell: I am the Founder and a Director on the Board of Trustees. I am a Dance Leader so I lead workshops with my friend Donna Wheeldon who is a Dance Artist. I perform with the performance team and have solo and duet performances too. I also go to conferences and tell people about the work of my amazing charity.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind creating DanceSyndrome?
Jen Blackwell: When I left school I spent 10 years searching for training so I could be a community dance teacher. Nobody offered anything that worked for me because I have a learning disability, Down’s syndrome. My disability doesn’t stop me from doing anything I want to, I just need some support. I started DanceSyndrome with the help of my parents so that I and other people like me could have a life in dance.
Interviewer: What are the student requirements for joining DanceSyndrome?
Jen Blackwell: DanceSyndrome includes everybody. We want people of all ages and abilities from all over the world to join us! We have people with learning disabilities co-leading all sessions so we understand that people have different needs and how to support them to dance in any way that makes them happy.
Interviewer: What is DanceSyndrome’s accomplishment you’re most proud of?
Jen Blackwell: We have won so many awards! I love to get awards to celebrate our amazing charity! We received the Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2019. This is the group version of an MBE! So we are very proud of that one! I received a Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister too. I’m also proud of some of the amazing performances we have done. Our whole team went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform and it was so good we went back again!
Interviewer: How can people get involved in working for or volunteering at DanceSyndrome?
Jen Blackwell: You can come along and join in with our sessions on Zoom or in our community centers in Lancashire. We then offer Dance By Example leadership training so you can learn how to lead a DanceSyndrome session in our co-leadership style.
Interviewer: Where do you see DanceSyndrome heading five years down the road?
Jen Blackwell: I am so excited that DanceSyndrome is going global! It has always been my dream that DanceSyndrome would go around the whole world and our Zoom sessions make that possible! It’s awesome to see the charity grow and grow!
Interviewer: Are there any special things DanceSyndrome is currently working on that you’d like us to know?
Jen Blackwell: We have an Arts Council England project working with partners in the UK and the USA (Down for Dance) to help our charity to grow and to show people around the world how dance choreography can be inclusive. We love to work in partnership and we are doing lots more of this now lockdown is over.
Interviewer: Do you believe that DanceSyndrome has proven to be a life-changing platform for individuals who joined it?
Jen Blackwell: DanceSyndrome is changing lives and I am so proud! I see my friends living a life in dance because I know that my charity has helped them to follow their dreams. Without DanceSyndrome people might still be lonely and feeling lost, like I did before I started the charity.
Interviewer: What advice would you like to give to individuals with disabilities looking to attain a career in the music, dance, or performing arts industry?
Jen Blackwell: Dancing has so many benefits for your health and wellbeing, everyone should try it! Dance is brilliant because you can just put music on and start dancing anywhere! That’s the first step. Then you can find out what style of dance you like because there are so many, you can do street dance or ballet or ballroom, there’s something for everyone. And then you have to believe in yourself because everyone can achieve if you believe you can. Dream, believe, achieve is my favorite motto!
