MacIntyre Dancers

It started as a conversation between MacIntyre CEO Sarah Burslem and previous Leaders’ List winners, Dance Syndrome. How could they work together to promote inclusive dancing that is available for everyone?

The result was MacIntyre Dancers – freelance dance groups set up across the UK a year ago.

Anita Taylor, Best Practice Facilitator at MacIntyre, line manages the MacIntyre Dancers

“The MacIntyre Dancers work together to create a welcoming dance environment and they strive to establish an inclusive setting where everyone can dance, freely engage, communicate and simply enjoy being together.”

“The purpose was to create opportunities for people to come together to learn new skills, connect with other people and get a sense of enjoyment. We strive to highlight the beneficial effects of dance on physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Particularly, reaching out to those facing challenges such as long-term health conditions, illness, impairments, disabilities and mental health issues.”

The dancers in each group are people supported by MacIntyre, however anyone interested in dance can become part of their local MacIntyre Dancers group, whether that’s just wanting to come and watch or join in with the dancing.

Two years ago, Dance Syndrome began training people supported by MacIntyre in the Dance Leaders training programme, giving them a qualification. A year later, these Dance Leaders then formed their own MacIntyre Dancers groups.

“Dance makes me feel alive and I love it”

– MacIntyre Dancers

Each dance group has a Leader who arranges the sessions and events. The leaders are supported by Dance Artists – these are dancers who provide support with choreography and leading sessions but they work together collaboratively.

Each group comes up with their own routines, performing at local events or for internal MacIntyre events, where they perform as a warm up and in the interval, which increases the energy in the room. The Dance Leaders are in contact via WhatsApp and share their routines with the other MacIntyre Dancers so they can learn routines and connect with each other.

Anita says:

“The Dancers have gained confidence and take pride in their accomplishments, dance is now their life and they are living and breathing their dream as dancers. At a recent event in Aylesbury, other dancers from local dance schools came up to the Dancers afterwards to tell them how good they were and impressed by their dance routines. For the dancer, it’s great to be told how amazing they are. They give off such energy and get people moving, they bring energy and passion.”

Dance Syndrome have been a big inspiration to them. Anita adds: “They are amazing with their achievements and their remarkable accomplishments serve as a benchmark. They are a source of inspiration to us.

The Dancers in Milton Keynes have created their own ChaChaChat group aimed at reaching out to the local community. Anita says: “The dance groups are a warm space for people to come and watch or join in. Anyone interested in dance can attend, and anybody can be a dancer. We had one lady who just came along to watch the Milton Keynes ChaChaChat group and is now getting qualified to be a Dance Leader.

So how does it feel to win the Leaders’ List Award?

“The reaction from the Dancers was stratospheric,” says Anita. “There were tears, cheers and asking if it was real. We’re excited beyond belief. This award is so important to us, it’s the first award we’ve ever won. It means so much to be recognised.”