It is a preconceived idea that people with learning disabilities are limited in what they can do and to what they can contribute to society. However Anjali Dance Company, a small Oxfordshire charity has been working hard to shatter this stereotype.

The company works with children, young people and adults with learning disabilities from Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties developing their creativity through dance. Anjali’s work is known all over the UK and beyond and has recently been enjoying an extended period of artistic success.

Acknowledged by audiences, critics, promoters and Arts Council England as a consistent producer of high quality, thought provoking dance, the company has performed at venues of all sizes in the UK from South Shields to North Devon, including the Royal Opera House, The South Bank and The Walkers Stadium in Leicester to a crowd of 25,000, as well as internationally in Berlin, Madrid and Lisbon.

Additionally in February this year Anjali performed at Resolution 2011! at The Place in London, a national showcase venue for contemporary dance in the UK and in July 2010, the Anjali’s Youth Dance Company, for young dancers with learning disabilities aged 13 to 24, was selected for the last 12 out of the hundreds of groups taking part for Youth Dance England’s national UDance showcase at The Birmingham Hippodrome.

In a bold initiative and with financial support from The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Anjali took its approach to enabling people with learning disabilities to the next level by employing people with learning disabilities on permanent contracts, taking leadership roles at an organisational level.

Thanks to this grant since October 2008, 10-year Anjali veteran dancer, Mark Barber has been on the staff at the company as Associate Director (Education), where he contributes to day-to-day and long-term planning. In 2010, he was joined on the staff team by former Anjali youth dancer Ruth Williams. Mark and Ruth lead Anjali’s Education Team, together they exemplify the excellence of Anjali’s work, which shows people with learning disabilities in a new and startling light, redefining what is possible artistically and shattering the preconceptions of the limits to their contribution to society.

Anjali is running a fundraising campaign, Keep Anjali Dancing, and would welcome any offers of assistance, either through donations, volunteering or by organising fundraising events. More information about Anjali Dance Company and its fundraising activities can be found at www.anjali.co.uk