DanceSyndrome will present ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill at The Lowry in the Quays Theatre on Thursday, 19th November 2026. This page answers some ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ about this one-night-only event.
Can you tell me more about DanceSyndrome?
DanceSyndrome is an Arts charity, based in the North-West of England, with both National and International reach.
DanceSyndrome was the inspiration of co-founder Jen Blackwell, who has Down’s syndrome. Jen wanted to follow her dream of being a dancer and a Dance Leader. She had a firm belief that ‘anything is possible even though you have a learning disability’. DanceSyndrome was established in 2009 and that concept is still the foundation for everything that we do.
DanceSyndrome works in the heart of communities, amplifying diverse Artist voices and co-delivering inclusion training to drive real change for people with learning disabilities. Through these three distinct areas of work, we impact over 10,000 people each year.
Community Dance: DanceSyndrome works in communities across the North-West and online to offer inclusive dance activities which are co-delivered by a professional Dance Artist and a trained Dance Leader with a learning disability. We want every participant to feel that they have been seen, heard and supported to move and progress in a way that works for them.
Artist Development: DanceSyndrome’s Artist Development programme offers progression routes for dancers to go beyond Community Dance and explore professional skills for Leadership, Choreography and Performance. Artists are supported to pursue their own passions, share their learning and develop their own artistic voices.
Inclusion Training: ‘Inclusion in Action’ is DanceSyndrome’s bespoke Inclusion Training, co-delivered through the lens of learning disability. People with learning disabilities tell us that they face barriers every day in society. Through’ Inclusion in Action’ we share their lived experiences and encourage people to discover ways they can break down barriers to create inclusive spaces where everybody can thrive.
What is ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill?
ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill is a powerful evening of contemporary dance featuring six brand-new works created through DanceSyndrome’s iCreate project.
Performed by a company of talented Artists with and without learning disabilities, ORIGIN showcases ambitious choreography, bold artistic ideas and exceptional performances.
Six different pieces will be presented as part of what is known as a “Mixed Bill”.
Each piece, developed by a different choreographer and co-created in collaboration with DanceSyndrome, has its own unique style and story, creating an evening of varied, thought-provoking and uplifting dance performances.
Whether you regularly attend dance shows or are seeing contemporary dance for the first time, ORIGIN promises to be a memorable live performance.
What is iCreate?
iCreate is a choreography project that sits within DanceSyndrome’s wider ‘Artist Development programme’, supporting diverse Artists (with and without disabilities) to develop their skills as choreographers and creative leaders.
Working alongside recognised choreographers and industry professionals from the UK and Internationally, the Artists have explored new creative approaches, developed original choreography and challenged traditional ideas about who gets to create professional dance.
ORIGIN is the latest presentation of the work from this groundbreaking project and is our most significant event to date.
Is this a professional quality production?
Yes. ORIGIN is a professionally produced performance presented in the Quays Theatre at The Lowry, Salford. It features newly commissioned choreography, professional lighting, sound and production design.
The production brings together Artists with and without disabilities, professional dancers, internationally recognised choreographers and an experienced creative team to produce work of the highest artistic quality.
Who are the performers?
The performers are experienced Artists with disabilities and professional Dance Artists who have worked with DanceSyndrome for several years.
Together they bring a wealth of experience, creativity and individuality to the stage, creating performances that are both technically accomplished and deeply authentic.
The performers are Alice Simpkin-Watkinson, David Corr, David Darcy, Donna Wheeldon, Ellie Bamber, Elizabeth Boothby, Emma Jones, Eve Emsley, Graeme Ballard, Jamie Montwill, Jessica Reid, John Burrow, Kady Ward, Kate Battersby, Lauren Wyatt, Lucy Burgess, Luke Whipp, Peter Pamphlett and Sophie Tickle.
There will also be two curtain-raiser performances to open each act of the show, by North-West based Youth Dance Companies; ‘Preston Youth Dance Company’ and ‘Be In A Show’.
Our Co-Founder Jen Blackwell and the DS Youth Collective will both perform in the foyer before the show.
Who are the choreographers?
ORIGIN features six original works created by an exciting mix of emerging Artists and established professional choreographers.
The production celebrates genuine creative collaboration, with Artists with learning disabilities taking leading roles in the choreographic process.
The choreographers include John Burrow, Josh Hawkins, Maiya Leeke, Kelly McClelland, and Dai Matsuoka.
You can read more about them on our Meet the Choreographers page.
How long is the performance?
Will there be an interval?
Who will enjoy ORIGIN?
ORIGIN is for anyone who enjoys high-quality live performance.
Whether you’re interested in contemporary dance, inclusive arts, powerful storytelling or simply looking for an inspiring night out, ORIGIN offers something for everyone.
No previous knowledge of dance is needed. We ask that audiences just come with an open mind and enjoy an evening of exceptional performances.
The performance features a range of performers and choreographers with and without learning disabilities, so it might also appeal to people who have a specific interest in access and inclusion in the Arts, or people who have followed DanceSyndrome’s work in previous years and would like to see how significantly our work has developed in recent years.
What accessibility support is available?
DanceSyndrome is committed to making ORIGIN as welcoming and accessible as possible.
The performance will include:
• BSL interpretation
• Integrated captions/subtitles
• Audio description and associated touch tour at 6pm
• A relaxed performance, in the sense that audience members are welcome to enter or exit the space when necessary
• An Access Guide available to support people throughout the evening
• An access table in the foyer, with the opportunity to meet some of our DanceSyndrome Ambassadors with learning disabilities
• Audience Sensory Support Kits with ear defenders, tinted glasses, fidget/stress toys, and mini fans
• A Visual Story will provide images and easy to read descriptions of what will happen in the show
• Written programme notes will describe the pieces to make the narrative of the pieces accessible
• Carefully considered lighting and sound, to create a balance between enabling people with sensory differences to enjoy the show and giving design and creative ownership to our Artists with disabilities
• Auditorium lights will be raised between each of the six different pieces to allow the audience to take a moment to prepare, in their own way, for the next performance piece
• Audible descriptions of the piece will be shared between each performance
• Additional support staff in the theatre and backstage will help everyone to have their needs met
We hope that these adaptations remove barriers for audience members and look forward to welcoming a diverse audience.
If you would like to know more about our approach to access, please visit this page on our website.
What is happening in the foyer before the show?
Before the main performance begins, audiences can enjoy two special foyer performances, one by our Co-Founder Jen Blackwell and a second by members of the DS Youth Collective.
These short performances showcase the journey that dancers can take with DanceSyndrome, from Jen’s passion and experience that are the foundations of our work, to the creativity and talent of the next generation of DanceSyndrome Artists.
The foyer performances are scheduled to start at 6pm, before the main show begins at 7pm. Please join us from 5:45pm.
There will also be an opportunity to meet our Ambassadors, Jen Blackwell and Becky Rich, visit our Access Table and learn more about the wider iCreate project.
Who are the curtain raisers?
The evening includes “curtain raiser performances.” Each Act of the show will be opened by a performance by a different youth dance company; Act 1 will be opened by ‘Preston Youth Dance Company’ and Act 2 by ‘Be In A Show’.
These performances celebrate emerging dancers and community dance organisations, setting the stage for the ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill performance pieces. These organisations have been carefully selected based on their creative alignment to the project and their commitment to developing young choreographic voices.
Why is ORIGIN being performed at The Lowry?
The Lowry is one of the UK’s most respected venues for dance and performance. They also have an excellent reputation for being accessible.
Presenting ORIGIN at The Lowry reflects the artistic ambition and professional quality of the production, while helping to challenge expectations about who can create and perform in the dance world.
Are there any reviews?
ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill is a one-night-only performance, which means we don’t have any reviews of this specific performance.
DanceSyndrome has built a reputation for creating exciting, high-quality performances that move, challenge and inspire audiences, so we do have some amazing feedback from our previous audiences.
Feedback has included comments such as:
“Never experienced anything like this before.”
“Impressed with the choreography and dancing and felt moved watching the performances of such talented people, that aren’t represented in mainstream dance.”
“Totally unexpected, it broke down all my preconceptions about what dance for disability looks like.”
“I had the privilege to see the first iCreate, which was amazing… today was awe inspiring and I can’t wait to see what they create next year. You are really pushing the boundaries and showing the dance world what people with learning disabilities are capable of. Well done – keep up your tremendous work.”
“It wasn’t just inclusive it was high-quality choreography and performance by disabled people. They weren’t talented or high quality “for disabled people” but talented in their own right with their disabilities enhancing their performances. Top quality.”
Who has funded ORIGIN?
ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill has been made possible thanks to the support of funders, partners and public donations.
DanceSyndrome are grateful for funding from Arts Council England, The Granada Foundation, The Big Give and our event sponsors Salford University.
Their investment has enabled Artists with disabilities to develop new work, collaborate internationally and bring this ambitious production to the stage in a way that is accessible not just for diverse performers and choreographers, but also audience members.
Is ORIGIN suitable for children?
ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill is being performed at 7pm – 9pm on a Thursday evening, so the time of day may mean that the event is not suitable for small children.
There is no content in the show that is unsuitable for children.
The pieces have not been directly created with the intention to make them appeal to children, but we aim for them to be accessible and understandable for people of all ages and abilities.
As a result, it is at the discretion of the parent/carer whether they think their child might be interested in watching a series of different dance performances, presented in a “Mixed Bill” format.
Why is the production called “ORIGIN”?
The title “ORIGIN” reflects the project’s exploration of where creativity begins, how new artistic voices emerge, and how DanceSyndrome’s Artists have developed original work through this collaborative process.
Each work celebrates originality, collaboration and the unique perspectives that Artists with disabilities bring to contemporary dance.
We also hope that it will be the starting point for a new perspective on who can be performers, choreographers and Artists in the dance industry in the future.
Can I bring a group?
Yes! We would love to see large families, groups of students, performers from other Arts organisations or people from learning disability groups in our audience. The Lowry has several special benefits for groups of 6 or more. Find out more on the Group Booking page of The Lowry’s website.
To make a group booking, you can call 0161 876 2003, email groups@thelowry.com or use the form on the Group Booking page of their website.
How do I get tickets?
ORIGIN: A Mixed Bill is being presented for one-night-only at The Lowry on Thursday, 19th November 2026. Tickets are available via The Lowry’s website.
Anyone who requires Audio Description seats, free Essential Companion tickets or Wheelchair accessible seats should call 0161 876 2000 and press Option 3 to speak to The Lowry’s dedicated Access team.
