Artistic Director

Jenni Wren

"Stunningly beautiful and breathtakingly expressive" - Cloud Dance Festival

Jenni Wren is of a new generation of UK female choreographers and freelance dance artists with a natural curiosity and passion for creative, collaborative and cross art processes, complimenting her first discipline of Contemporary Dance.

A born performer, Jenni showed a leaning toward choreography from an early age. Originally from Scotland she moved to Yorkshire to study dance at NSCD graduating with a BPA Hons (Contemporary Dance) and Post Graduate Dip (Professional Contemporary Dance Practice).

In 2004, she formed Slanjayvah Danza, a vehicle and production name for her own conceptual and creative practice. A life-long interest in the nuances of human behaviour and communication fuels her work and she delves into the intrigue of the human psyche to colour her creations.

As a choreographer and independent dance artist, Jenni works viscerally, instinctively yet intelligently with the aim of communicating ideas and feelings clearly through physicality and movement without boundaries. She has worked and collaborated with numerous artists from multi-disciplines to create innovative and collaborative productions which have toured across the UK and abroad, achieving critical acclaim.

Her continuous intrigue and research into the dynamic tripartite relationship between choreographer, performer and audience, creates an unusual and interesting approach to choreography which audiences relate to and which attracts a mixed range of audience types, encouraging accessibility and participation in the arts.

In recent years, recognition of her integrated choreographic designs and moving image work has spread across the globe with the making of Blind Passion, followed by an exceptionally contrasting, but equally successful, narrative integrated live dance/film, Crazy Joanna.

In 2012/13, Jenni will be working closely with international performance artist Vivien Wood, in a creative and co-mentoring partnership, working alongside regular and new collaborators and expanding the company's European cultural exchanges and relations.

‘We start with the delightful Jenni Wren, Artistic Director of Slanjayvah Danza, whose Blind Passion - Live Cut left the audience stunned.' - Bella Figura- Laura Cappelle

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