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Jen Larner
Jen is a Circle Dance teacher with a keen interest in making the dances as inclusive as possible. She has adapted her sessions and developed dance resources for people living with dementia, and those with mobility problems. Born in Essex, Jen has lived in many areas of the country, with a very varied career, mostly in community work. She currently works as a gardener and lets rooms on Airbnb in Bury St Edmunds in addition to running Circle Dance groups. She has two adult children. Jen started doing international folk dancing in her twenties, when it was all very new. After moving house and finding there wasn't a group, someone suggested she try circle dancing. She says, “I soon became hooked, loving the variety of music and dances from all over the world. I like all the contrasts in the dances - from slower, meditative ones to fast and furious! I appreciate the fact that you don't need a partner, and yet you are not dancing alone but in a supportive group which quickly becomes a community. I also feel that there is an - often subconscious - 'spiritual' element to circle dancing and that is important to me too.” The ‘Encircling the Land with Sacred Dance’ initiative led to Jen meeting the Bury St Edmunds dancers, and she soon got roped in to teach – ‘just one dance’. Jen says, “I really enjoy teaching and seeing people experience circle dancing, often for the first time, and their process of assimilating the steps through working as a group and building a sense of togetherness, through laughter as we invent 'variations', and have fun! Several dancers in my groups have choreographed dances for us to try, and have been enthused to dance with other teachers too.” |
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Jen currently runs two weekly groups, and two monthly groups. She is in discussion with the local health centre, and dementia support groups in Suffolk, about starting a dementia friendly group. In March 2021 at Belsey Bridge, Ditchingham, Norfolk (UK) she will be offering a residential dance course.
“I want dancing to be as inclusive as possible, and relish the challenge of adapting dances for those with more limited mobility, including those confined to chairs. I have done a lot of work in Women’s Institutes, social groups, church communities and residential homes. It's very satisfying to see people who thought their dancing days were over moving to stimulating music and smiling. “
To contact Jen: [email protected]
Below you can download a copy of Jen's article entitled Circle Dance and Health:
“I want dancing to be as inclusive as possible, and relish the challenge of adapting dances for those with more limited mobility, including those confined to chairs. I have done a lot of work in Women’s Institutes, social groups, church communities and residential homes. It's very satisfying to see people who thought their dancing days were over moving to stimulating music and smiling. “
To contact Jen: [email protected]
Below you can download a copy of Jen's article entitled Circle Dance and Health:
| jen_article_best.pdf |
