The joy of inclusion is something that can’t be explained. Rather it has to be experienced firsthand. It’s interesting to consider it from various angles. Here it is from the perspective of one perceptive visitor to the DanceSyndrome space recently:
One thing was that I didn’t know how I would feel entering their space. I wondered if I might feel uncomfortable, unsure, out of my comfort zone etc, but in fact they all made me feel so much at ease that it was quite the opposite experience. I was the one who was made to feel ‘included’ in their unique space Eira Lynn Jones, professional harpist
It is so much more than the door being open. When you meet a person where they are, communicate with
DanceSyndrome collective practice with harpist Eira Lynn Jones
them through their preferred language of choice, experience that joyful liberation where opportunities to connect happen naturally rather than through any ‘clever’ orchestration, then creativity flourishes and is given voice, people normally constrained by preconceptions and assumptions are freed of their bonds to be themselves, with happiness and laughter following right along behind.
Watching, listening, learning, absorbing are all key components to connecting with the inner person. Suzie Birchwood at ActOne ArtsBase was such a great model in this regard. As a trained career ballerina who herself became a wheelchair user she shared this genteel art through gifting time and opportunity to those most of us would have walked straight on by seeing neither dancer nor leader in the person she was engaging in the dance of life. Jen was privileged to spend one day a week with Suzie in her class of 2010 learning, absorbing and developing in her own way, always being encouraged to go the extra mile, try a little harder, stretch a little further, speak a little louder, step outside her comfort zone.
Some things worked well, others not so well, but that’s all part of the learning and the rich tapestry of life. For Jen this was an opportunity where she was being invited to participate. And for the first time in her life, age 28, it was straight down the line – Dance and Leadership for People with Learning Disabilities. In 10 years of searching there hadn’t been such an opportunity on offer from another party, never before had Jen been invited to the table, the table where she yearned to be. This was the training Jen sought but there were numerous challenges to overcome in order to access it, not least that it was hundreds of miles away from where Jen lived, one day a week for a year. But we found a way, the Blackwell way, because it mattered. This was a rare opportunity we couldn’t ignore.
Special Virtuosi at the Royal Northern College of Music was another space and place where Jen thrived for several years loving the experience of playing her flute with others for 2 hours a week. Their methodology echoed our belief that 1:1 is the ideal ratio of learning disabled contributors to each enabling contributor creating a series of cameos of pairs of musicians working together creating a patchwork which is far far greater than any of the component parts. This eye opening experience wasn’t for every music student, but there will be those to whom it spoke who will take that learning into their future lives and careers. It will stay with them always, and help them understand that we must all allow time, not jump to conclusions, and that it’s ok to sit out and watch if you’re not comfortable or confident enough to join in yet. In all probability it will happen, gradually, and who knows, perhaps you’re looking at the next leader from unexpected places. Maybe then one day you’ll turn to your friend and say with pride, ‘I know that person, I worked/walked/played alongside him/her when I was a student’.
Cameos present throughout our lives. It’s up to us what we make of them. We each weave our tapestry of life where the strength is determined by the integrity of the inter-connecting threads, the vibrancy by the quality of the cameos.
Spending time with Jen at Monet’s garden when she was 14 will stay with me forever. It was the first time that we consciously played with the idea of cameos. It was one of those times when picking Jen up off the ground and putting her back on her feet landed fairly and squarely in my lap. There was no-one else to turn to so for 6 months home-schooling became the order of the day and ultimately it did us no harm at all. Best of all, it allowed time to explore, trial, be opportunistic in the moment, experience life through love, dance, music, community, connections.
Jen’s pencil case created by Little Things to Cherish using pointillistic style
Monet’s garden was captured in arts and crafts, through music, photos, poetry and words, and Jen’s continuing delight to this day in the French language. We were together. We travelled together, ate together, experienced together, laughed and strolled together, allowed ourselves time to be enveloped and comforted by the smells and beauty of the garden, gifted time to each other. For five protected days Jen was included, I was included, with both our lives intertwined and enhanced, neither of us was being torn into ever smaller pieces as we sought to service other agendas too.
Whilst intermittent cameos gave meaning to the days and weeks, months and years, they were in dwindling supply as the years passed by. Cameos of themselves were not enough to sustain wellbeing, no matter the strength of the interconnecting threads. We needed to find a way to create different artwork, impressionist or pointillistic perhaps, where the vibrant strokes multiplied and connected covering and hiding the warp and weft. We needed Jen and other dancers like her to be freed of constraints, to be empowered to be themselves, to contribute their unique movements and ideas to the whole, a space and place where equity rules. And as has been proven again and again, give it voice and joy follows right along as surely as night follows day.
DanceSyndrome EXPRESS ‘24, is a two act celebration of inclusive dance presented by award winning charity DanceSyndrome. The first act will showcase each of their community groups from across Lancashire, and the premiere of “A Sunken Forest” in collaboration with musician Eira Lynn Jones.
Tickets available here: https://blackburnempire.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173650186
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If you’re ready to hear more about the art of the possible in an inclusive society contact us.
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Photograph used with kind permission from DanceSyndrome