‘Dancing Is About What You Are And What You Can Do’

A man with Down’s syndrome said landing his dream job in the performing arts has taught him about “finding yourself as a human and an artist”.

James, 23, recently joined York Dance Space as an assistant, teaching adult and toddler classes alongside the school’s co-founder Drew Wintie-Hawkins.

The opportunity arose through a partnership with Tang Hall SMART, which supports young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to gain qualifications in music, sport and the arts.

James, from York, grew up with a love of performing, and described his new job as “a great honour” because “dancing is about what you are and what you can do”.

He said: “It’s about the things you learn about yourself, the world, the people and what you can do to help them.”

James’ mum Sue described her son as a “born entertainer” who used to practice dancing in his bedroom from a very young age.

“James has found something really quite special for him, which is being able to express himself through dance,” she said.

“It’s opened up his horizons – he shines when he’s on his stage”.

James first attended a summer camp run by Tang Hall SMART as a teenager, later joining the charity’s programme through his Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

Through this, he gained a Level 3 RSL vocational qualification, alongside performing at Northern Ballet in Leeds, and working at York Dance Festival.

Phyllis Hoyle, lead drama and dance tutor, said through qualifications, students not only tapped into their creativity but gained transferable workplace skills.

“We want them to get out into the world with as many skills as possible,” she explained.

“To see some of them going on and doing really great things like James is doing, it’s amazing”.

James’ natural ability to “make people feel like the best person in the world” made the role a perfect fit, she added, as well as having an accommodating workplace.

“It’s finding the right people within the performing arts world,” she said.

“We’re very lucky we’ve managed to pair James up with somebody who is happy to work at a different pace”.

Husband and wife dancing duo Drew and Hannah Wintie-Hawkins set up York Dance Space in 2016, and have worked with Tang Hall SMART students across various projects over the years.

For Drew, the partnership embodies the ethos that “creativity is for everyone”.

“For us as an organisation, to have people in leadership roles who are representative of all different backgrounds is absolutely needed,” he said.

Drew first met James through Everybody Dance Festival, an inclusive, annual event hosted at York Theatre Royal, where he quickly learnt about his passion for dance.

“He’s just so great, he throws himself into anything really,” he added.

“Because we’ve built up a relationship, he’s really comfortable and goes with everything that’s happening”.

‘Dancing is fun’

James is currently covering two groups sessions at the dance school as part of a mentorship, with the aim of the position becoming a permanent, paid role.

There also may be scope for him to develop his own professional dance work, supported by York Dance Space.

From a parent’s point of view, Sue said her dream was that “through his own hard work”, the job can be her son’s next step, after his EHC plan finishes later this year.

“I’m really hoping James is going to be so lucky and get a job that he’ll really love,” she added.

For James, he said he’s thoroughly enjoying his job so far, with his favourite part being “the things you learn about yourself”.

“Drew is one of the best dance teachers and it’s been such a great honour to actually be with him,” he said.

“Dancing is so fun, it’s about what you are and what you can do”.