Previous Experience

Jenny Skinner is a performance artist and academic. She has graduated with a BA and MA in Performance at Leeds Beckett University and continued her postgraduate research at The University of Leeds, focusing on feminist performance. She then returned to Leeds Beckett as a lecturer on their BA Theatre and Performance programme.

Her academic work centres on the use of neo-burlesque within live art to create empowering spaces for cisgender female performers to explore their experiences of sexual violence.

She has worked as an academic consultant on Arts Council England funded projects and collaborated on international performances with artists from South Africa, Greece, and Germany. Mostly recently, her full length stage show: ‘This is not a Burlesque Show’ (2021) was featured at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in Romania.

Teaching Responsibilities

Emma trained as a dancer at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, graduating in 2007 and worked as a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher. Trained in contemporary, ballet, commercial styles, jazz, tap and hip hop, Emma has performed both nationally and internationally for different agencies and companies, including performing in shows and events in Abu Dhabi, India, Turkey, Cyprus, London, Birmingham and Newcastle. Choreography credits include Portrait of a Nation (Liverpool, 2008), Dance Bradford (2008), Jonzi D’s Breakin’ Convention (Sheffield 2012), and her choreography has been performed at various youth dance showcases.

As a teacher, Emma has taught for notable organisations including Dance for Life, Qdos Creates, Wayne Sables Project, KliK Arts and RJC Dance. In 2013 Emma achieved her PGDip in Teaching, and since then has worked in education as a lecturer and Curriculum Manager in Further Education settings. Emma is currently the Curriculum Area Manager at the Bradford School of Art, but remains committed to dance and is involved in networks and external events to support dance in the local community.