Who We Are

Artistic Director: Jen Wren

Jen Wren is a hugely experienced and multi-skilled performance artist committed to working in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary territory. In a career spanning 3 decades, Jen has been involved in 130+ international artistic projects - presenting work for both stage and film. Her choreography has been shown within the UK, Spain, Pais Vasco, France, Netherlands, USA, South America, Qatar and Singapore. Jen‘s productions are known for communicating universal themes grounded in artistic, human, historical or scientific concepts, and rooted in stories and real lived experiences that connect people and place.

She has worked with a vast array of artists and organisations in roles as performer, producer, director, dramaturg, rehearsal director, teacher and creative enabler. Jen received an MA from The Northern School of Contemporary Dance, with a thesis that focussed on the traditional, trans-disciplinary and intercultural arts in a contemporary context. She has lectured for a variety of institutions and sits on boards/discussion groups representing the arts, cultural and well-being with organisations across the UK.

Producer: Gwen Van Spijk

With over 30 years of experience working across the performance sector, Gwen has made significant contributions to live art in the UK and Ireland, having collaborated with, and produced work for, a portfolio of high profile artists and companies such Russell Maliphant, Carol Brown, Rosemary Butcher, Nigel Charnock, Pan Pan, Junk Ensemble, Croi Glan, and Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects. Her production and management credits notably include ambitious works and community-scale performances such as Lone Twin’s The Boat Project (a highlight of the 2012 London Cultural Olympiad), and Destino, a co-production by Dance United and Sadler’s Wells with a cross-generational cast of 130 performers and live music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 2020, she was appointed Producer in Residence at Dance Ireland and continues to assist organisations with business planning, leadership development, and company reviews. Her leadership extends to governance roles, where she has served as Chair of Stan’s Cafe Theatre, Dance 4, and the Independent Dance Managers’ Network (IDMN). She is also Chair of the Management Committee at The Mill Arts Centre in Banbury.

“One of the most incisive and innovative choreographers working in the UK dance scene”

Graham Watts (Dance Critic Circle)

Tour Manager: Suzanne Milne

Suzanne is a dedicated tour manager and emerging producer with extensive experience delivering complex, large-scale projects. Based in rural Scotland, she combines a first-hand understanding of the unique challenges of working in remote locations with a professional background in corporate leadership, project coordination, and, notably, coordination of multiple humanitarian aid projects requiring sensitive collaboration with international NGOs and government partners to arrange shipments of essential supplies to Lesvos and other crisis locations.

Through an FST Producer Placement with Slanjayvah Danza, Suzanne gained significant sector experience supporting the company’s national rural tour of 6 Feet, 3 Shoes (2022) leading on tour management and social engagement activities leaving a lasting legacy for the places she serves.

The Board

The Board of Trustees of Slanjayvah Danza is responsible for setting the vision and strategy of the company. They are collectively dedicated to the success of Slanjayvah Danza, ensuring that we connect in an authentic way with promoters, audiences, participants and artists.

Gail Ferrin (Chair)
Phil Sanger (Treasurer)
Jen Wren (Secretary)
Daniel Aing
Dave Foote
Mandy Hampton

Community Focus Group

We are honoured to have a team of local volunteers who form our Community Focus Group., meeting quarterly to talk about jpw what we do at base and beyond can have a positive effect with and within our community in The Carse of Gowrie.

We look forward to providing you with more information about these mysterious individuals in the very near future!

Artistic Friendships

After 21 years of creativity, we are blessed to be able to count these fabulous artists among our long-term partnerships and to consider them friends of the company.

Frank McConnell, Kathleen MacInnes, Adela Ramos, Ivan Ramos, Luisa Galan, Phil Sanger, Susana Aguilar, Keira Martin, Maria Vega, Rosa Cisneros, Magi McGlynn, Jeane Denny, Taylor Han, Laura Booth, Maribel Ortiz Garcia, Sophie Stephenson, Lowenna Hosken, Vivien Wood, Richard Easson, Aurora Fearnley, Jamie Donoughue, Lee Aing, Jon Owen, Adam Wilks, Mark Baker, Thom Hall, Lynn Wiseman, Pete Shenton.