Helen Mason

Musical Tap Tutor (she/her)

Helen gained a BA (Hons) Degree in Dance and Visual Practice from Brighton University (2002) and a PGCE teacher training qualification from Nottingham Trent University (2006). Since Graduating Helen’s worked as dancer, choreographer and teacher. Helen has taught for 18 years in a variety of settings such as; care homes, hostels and foyers, day centres, youth groups, schools and F.E colleges, including being a course leader and tutor on Btec, G.C.S.E, A’level and Degree Dance courses in both Nottingham and Birmingham.

Helen is the Artistic Director of Squirm Dance Company and creates work for an ‘everybody’ audience in unusual venues. Squirm creates high quality entertaining and inclusive performances and workshops for the community and National festival events. Helen believes everyone should have access to dance and this value runs through all the work Helen produces. Squirm have been commissioned for a number of performances including The Birmingham Weekender, The National wheelchair basketball opening and closing ceremonies and The Birmingham International Dance Festival.

Helen set up Freewheelin Dance in 2017, Birmingham’s first wheelchair and inclusive dance group. Freewheelin have gone on to perform locally and Nationally and have won a number of competitions including the Para Dance UK National Championships in 2018 and 2019 and for hiphop teams section of the International Open Inclusive Dance Festival 2021. Alongside opportunities provided by The Dance Hub to train with Axis Dance Company in America, Helen has further developed her teaching practice with physical and learning disabled participants and is now regularly leading sessions with Cerebral Palsy Midlands, Spectrum Day care and Midland Mencap to name just a few. Helen also teaches Contemporary and Tap dance at The Midland Art Centre.

Helen is an advocate for Inclusive dance and has appeared in a film for Parable Dance which discusses what is good practice and has spoken at the House of Lords about making physical activity in Britain more inclusive. Helen  has recently been selected to be mentored by Omari Carter to create an inclusive dance film this summer supported by Dancexchange.