Jo Frater

Artistic Director / Founder

Jo is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and advocate for inclusion who founded Confidance 15 years ago. Driven by the belief that dance can, and should, include all people, celebrate diversity and champion difference, Jo has continually interrogated and developed the Confidance methodology and work. During this time, she has delivered countless community projects, classes, performances and professional training programmes for people with and without learning disabilities. 

As well as designing and delivering the creative content programmes, Jo leads on Confidance’s consultancy and advocacy work, which strives to shift perspectives on inclusion and prompt cultural change.   

Throughout her career, Jo has used both practical and academic research to deepen her practice, including being invited to develop a practice as research MA Pathway with Rose Bruford College. ‘Liberating the Lines; What does the notion of audience mean in relation to inclusive dance work’ explored the role of children with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities as artists, choreographers and audiences, and saw the development of Confidance’s “embodied improvisation” approach. You can see more by clicking here.