I always wanted to be a dancer. I’ve always danced. It’s in my blood. Dance is how I communicate best.

I’m Jen and I’m a dancer. I am co-founder and director of my charity DanceSyndrome. I’m also proud to be a NAPA Ambassador helping others to be active in whatever way is right for them.

I trained as a community dance leader which was always my dream. But this was only after my Mum and I had tried lots of different places, people and training for the 10 years after I left school. We couldn’t find the right support for me, as I have a learning disability, so we set up our own organisation which we named DanceSyndrome.

15 years on and we’re helping more and more people to dance through our online and community Everybody Dance sessions. I am part of the DanceSyndrome Collective, a professional dance group who perform on big and small stages. I love dancing on stage, but I didn’t enjoy the very early morning we had when we went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 for our third show!

My parents have always supported me to be me and I went to dance lessons each week from a young age. When the careers adviser told me I could do drama at a local theatre, I told him “no! I want dance, not drama.” And my parents helped to create DanceSyndrome which is my life.

I owe my life to DanceSyndrome. I now have lots of friends and met my best friend Becky through the Leadership course, Dance by Example, she came on with me.

Donna and Jen

I need lots of support to do what I do. I always say, “with the right support at the right time we can go further and further and further.” I live independently with my support team helping me. Donna is my lead support and best buddy and she is also a dance artist with DanceSyndrome so we spend a lot of time together. She helps me by structuring my week so I don’t get too tired, but makes sure I do all the things I need to do to keep me happy and healthy and doing the things I enjoy. She organises my other supporters to get me to places I can’t get to by bus or train, and they help me with my shopping and day to day life.

Playing the flute is one of my favorite things other than dancing. My flute is called Zenika and I play her every week with my flute monkey mate, Jane, and in a music group called Jubiliso. I get lost in music when I play, just like I get lost in dance. I’m just me being me.

I love doing Krav, a martial art, and got my green belt recently – the photo is me receiving it. I love skiing with my parents, it’s like dancing on diamonds when you go down the snow in the sunshine!

When I’m at home relaxing I like to do diamond art and listen to Japanese zen music. I also like watching WWE wrestling, Wigan Warriors rubgy and I support Manchester City football team. I love sparkly things and I get my nails done with sparkles.

I received the British Empire Medal for my services to disabled people and last year I received an honourary doctorate from The University of Salford for my work I do there. I co-lead a workshop with a dance artist to show students what’s possible for people with learning disabilities, and I get them dancing.

I am looking forward to sharing what I get up to each month with you and inspire you to believe what’s possible for you. My mantra is, “Dream, Believe, Achieve”.

This short video was first shown at my graduation ceremony in July 2024 at The Lowry, Manchester. It shows some of my dancing family and all the things we love doing in DanceSyndrome. I hope you enjoy it.

Jen