DanceSyndrome

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DanceSyndrome

DanceSyndrome is an inclusive dance charity based in Lancashire with a focus on including everybody.
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DanceSyndrome is an innovative North West based inclusive dance charity, led by people with learning disabilities. Established in 2009, DanceSyndrome is the inspiration of founder and Director, Jen Blackwell, an aspiring community dance leader, who happens to have Down’s syndrome. DanceSyndrome believes that everyone has the right to follow their own interests and passions – regardless of whether

they have a disability or not; and exists to support Jen, and other dancers like her, who are learning disabled and want to lead and inspire others to share their love of dance through inclusive community workshops, dance leader training and performances.

07/08/2026

We're very proud of the team of 9 people who have just completed our online Level 1 Dance Leadership course!

This is the first time we have delivered this qualification online and they have all been amazing! Some of these dancers have been dancing with us since the pandemic, so it is fantastic to see them progressing and learning dance leadership skills. We can’t wait to see how they take their new skills forward in the future!

Well done to everyone who completed the course and to Millie, Grace and Anushka for supporting them! What a great team! 💜💙

06/08/2026

Becky and Luke had a fantastic day at Chorley Council Summer Playday yesterday! The response from the public was fantastic and it’s always nice to say hello to Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP. Becky was also excited to meet The Mayor of Chorley, Councillor Debra Platt, and Consort, Councillor Alan Platt.

If you chatted to them yesterday and would like more information about our work, checkout our website: www.dancesyndrome.co.uk/sessions

05/08/2026

Our Accrington participants were pleased to welcome Sarah Smith MP to our Thursday morning session last week.

Becky Rich, David Corr and David Darcy all represented DanceSyndrome and spoke to Sarah about our work and why it’s so important.

Sarah didn’t just join in with the session, she also went away and did some work to connect us with other organisations who can help us to make even more impact in local communities.

If you’d like to know more about the sessions available in your area, please visit the Book a Session page on our website (link in comments)

03/08/2026

Becky and Luke are looking forward to joining the Chorley Council Summer Playday on Wednesday 5th August.

They will be delivering two 30-minute Leadership in Action performances at 11:30am and 1:30pm, as well as hosting a stall if you need more information about how to join us. Come and join them and enjoy this fantastic community event!

01/08/2026

This is a polite reminder for participants who attend our Chorley, Preston and Accrington Everybody Dance sessions: our in-person sessions are closed this week (Monday 3rd August to Thursday 5th August 2026).

Sessions return to usual times next week.

If you would still like to do some dancing this week, why not join us on Zoom?

Our Zoom sessions are still running every weekday at 6pm.

Visit www.dancesyndrome.co.uk/sessions to book a place.

31/07/2026

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗚𝗠

The DanceSyndrome AGM will be taking place on Zoom this year.

The meeting will take place on Thursday 15th October and is open to everyone.

The link to sign up is in the comments.

30/07/2026

𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 & 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

DanceSyndrome is looking for an exceptional, experienced, self-motivated, and enthusiastic Growth & Development Director with a minimum of 10 years’ work experience to lead, manage and execute DanceSyndrome’s strategy: Vision 2030 with a specific focus in driving revenue into the organisation, and participation and audience engagement.

We have ambitious plans for the next few years. Our Growth & Development Director will need to be an extremely personable and approachable individual with a strategic mind, and persuasive (Sales) manner who is able to reach and attract new participants, increase participants attending our Community workshops, and increase and reach new audiences for our Performance work to ensure the long-term sustainability of DanceSyndrome’s community offering.

Application deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 1st September.

Find out more at www.dancesyndrome.co.uk/job_opportunity

27/07/2026

Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July. It’s a month dedicated to celebrating disabled culture and identity, challenging perceptions about disability, and advocating for improvements in accessibility and inclusion.

DanceSyndrome Ambassador and Spokesperson Becky Rich loves to celebrate Disability Pride Month every year.

In this video, she explains why Disability Pride is important to her and how DanceSyndrome's upcoming performance of ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill fits with the themes of Disability Pride Month.

ORIGIN is a bold, artist-led platform where diverse voices take centre stage.

Developed through DanceSyndrome’s iCreate programme, which places Artists with learning disabilities at the heart of the collaborative process, ORIGIN is a mixed bill of six newly commissioned works, created with international choreographers.

If you’d like to know more about ORIGIN, or get your tickets, please visit The Lowry website (link in the comments!)

Video Description: A video opening with Dance Leader, Spokesperson and Ambassador Becky Rich sitting outside in a blue DanceSyndrome T-shirt and holding an ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill flyer. Becky speaks about Disability Pride Month and celebrates the talents and achievements of disabled people. The reel includes clips of DanceSyndrome artists rehearsing together in a studio for ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill, before returning to Becky as she encourages viewers to spread the word. The video ends with the event poster and performance details.

26/07/2026

At DanceSyndrome, accessibility isn’t something we add at the end of a project. It is part of what makes a DanceSyndrome event feel unique and authentically “DanceSyndrome.”

We are looking forward to presenting ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill at The Lowry on Thursday 19th November, and we chose Lowry as our performance space because we love their commitment to access too!

If you are a person with a disability who needs support to attend a show, The Lowry operates a scheme where you can bring an “essential companion” (parent/carer/support worker) for free.

You can register for this scheme by completing the Access Register Application Form on their website or by calling their Access team on 0161 876 2183.

If you would like to know more about our approach to access at ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill, please visit the link the comments!

Video description: Vertical video opens with text asking whether viewers are planning to attend ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill. Outdoors, two DanceSyndrome dancers speak to the camera in alternating shots. One dancer explains that free Essential Companion tickets are available for a support worker, carer or guardian, while the other asks how to access them. The video directs viewers to the DanceSyndrome website for ticket and accessibility information, before ending with the ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill event poster.

Address

The Globe Centre, St James Square
Accrington
BB50RE

Telephone

+447597942494

Website

http://www.dancesyndrome.co.uk/

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