It’s been a busy few months with my family and my dancing family. I am very proud of all we’ve done so far this year. It’s been very exciting.
Jen dancing her solo
After my Mum and Dad sailed across the Atlantic on their yacht Sukama in January, my lead support and Fire Sister Donna and I flew to meet them in Tampa Bay, Florida. We were all taking part in a conference organized by Dennis Pitocco called Encounter 360°. We were leading a session where Donna and I did a duet, I danced a solo and did some talking and Mummy and Daddy spoke about how we’ve done what we’ve done and what DanceSyndrome does. Our friend Brian spoke clearly about how we can help more people. We got a standing ovation and lots of people were really interested in what we do.
The best part was dancing with Allison Kenny a belly dance teacher who invited me to support her in her session. I showed the audience a body wave which Allison said was better than hers and she’s been belly dancing for 20 years. I was so proud!
I met Apurv through Bangra dancing and we had such fun together in the dance. He runs A Loving Organisation and he wants us to be part of it. I’m so excited about that.
After the 2-day conference we flew to Dominica where Donna and I had a holiday with Mum and Dad, staying on Sukama. We had some adventures together. Donna and I sat under the hot waterfall together and the sand made my skin go brown! It washed off, so it was OK. We saw dolphins and fish in the clear sea and swam in a beautiful gorge we had to walk to.
The best part of our holiday was the luxury spa hotel Donna and I stayed in. I had a massage which I loved! Thank you Donna for booking that for me. It was my very first one. We had lots of amazing food and drinks. We even drank from coconuts! Everything was very colourful.
When we got home Donna and I led a special online dance session for Down’s Syndrome Association and DanceSyndrome as part of the national day of dance. We were very tired from our flight home but we did it!
We’ve been practicing a new dance for DanceSyndrome annual Express performance in June every Wednesday with the DanceSyndrome collective. This year it’s all about colours and I’m so proud of my dancers for the work they put in. It’s going to be incredible. I hope you can come and watch us in Blackburn on 11th June at 7.30pm. You can get tickets here: https://blackburnempire.com/show/dancesyndrome-presents-express-26/
On Down’s syndrome awareness day my dancing family danced at Manchester 
Piccadilly station and we raised £1200 which was amazing for the charity. It was odd sock day so I was wearing odd socks. There was a little girl I danced with. It was so cute! We all had lots of fun showing people what we can do when we have the right support.
Jen blue belt Krav grading
I also achieved my blue belt in Krav last month which I’m very proud of.
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Dr (h.c.) Jen Blackwell BEM is co-founder and Director of DanceSyndrome, the charity the Blackwells set up in 2009 when the family couldn’t find the right support or training for Jen to follow her passion to be a Dance Leader in her community.