Helen Mason

Helen gained a BA (Hons) Degree in Dance and Visual Practice from Brighton University (2002) and a PGCE from Nottingham Trent University (2006). Since Graduating Helen worked as dancer, choreographer and teacher. With extensive teaching experience, Helen has taught in a variety of settings such as; care homes for the elderly, homeless hostels and foyers, day centers, pre school groups and F.E colleges, including being a course leader and tutor on Btec, G.C.S.E, A’level and Degree Dance courses.

Helen is the Artistic Director of Squirm Dance Company and founded the group in 2012 to create work for an ‘everybody’ audience in unusual venues, blending her own unique style of quirky gestures and humorous realism. Helen believes everyone should have access to dance, be that the audience or participants. This value runs through all the work Helen produces from workshops to performances.

Helen recently achieved her Level 2 Instructor training course with Wheelchair Dance Sports Association (WDSA) and set up ‘Freewheelin,’ Birmingham’s first wheelchair dance group. Alongside opportunities given by DanceXchange and Rachel Lines of Frontline,Helen has further developed her teaching practice with physical and learning disabled participants and is now regularly leading sessions with Cerebral Palsy West Midlands.

Helen teaches Dance for Wellbeing, Tap beginners and mini Movers here at the Mac and will be leading on an inclusive dance course to start in the new year.

Helen has a vast amount of performance experience including: the site-specific piece ‘Divers’ created at Brighton Marina by Same-Sky in 2001. ‘Seismic Shift’ community piece with Motionhouse Dance Company in 2003 at The Pump House Gallery in Leamington Spa. The World Premier of ‘Life is a Dream’ in March 2012 with Birmingham Opera Company and again in August 2012 in Birmingham Opera’s London 2012 festival performance of ‘Mittwoch aus Licht’.