jo willis

Inclusive Performing Arts

Suggested by Deborah O’Nyons

“Jo Willis established Shallal, an inclusive dance theatre company in 1985, welcoming everyone regardless of age, ability or gender. She was ahead of her time in recognising the talent of people society chose to isolate and cast aside. Shallal is an improvisation performance group and a family, supporting members through loss, change, ill health and hard days.

Jo enables people to connect with parts of themselves long forgotten, to awaken joy in movement and dance. With a gift for holding space and bearing witness to things that everyone brings to a group, Jo has a vision of equality and the ability to see beauty in everyone. Meeting Jo changed my life: her open invitation to dance with Shallal brought such joy and connection.

Jo’s home is embedded in community, a place where she welcomes people, offering shelter. During covid she connected with communities digitally and coordinated visits to people’s homes where an individual dancer would perform in the garden for an isolated individual.

Born and raised in Cornwall, Jo says she has the heart of a Cornish gypsy. Her connection with the land has driven her creative vision. Passionate about environmental protection, signing Shallal up to culture declares a climate and ecological emergency, she educates the group about climate action, and seeking ways of working that will protect Cornwall.

Shallal has grown from its beginnings in Newlyn into community groups across county and a studio at Krowji, Redruth. They have created artwork, dance and poetry performances in libraries, church halls, outdoor spaces, heritage sites and theatres in Cornwall. In September 2024, Jo accepted a prestigious Awen Medal from the Grand Cornish Bard, on behalf of The Shallal Dance Theatre

Jo has created an amazing legacy of visual, signed, spoken and written art by people living and working in the county.”

@shallalarts